CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

CASH.TO (Global X High Interest Savings ETF) and VAB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CASH.TO is a Money Market fund actively managed by Global X, while VAB.TO is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index. CASH.TO is actively managed, while VAB.TO is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, CASH.TO returned 3.50%/yr vs 4.05%/yr for VAB.TO. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. CASH.TO charges 0.11%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VAB.TO.

Performance

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CASH.TO achieves a 1.06% return, which is significantly higher than VAB.TO's 0.92% return.

CASH.TO

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.15%
• 6M: 1.02%
• YTD: 1.06%
• 1Y: 2.16%
• 3Y*: 3.50%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VAB.TO

• 1D: -0.39%
• 1M: -0.79%
• 6M: 0.57%
• YTD: 0.92%
• 1Y: 3.28%
• 3Y*: 4.05%
• 5Y*: 0.32%
• 10Y*: 1.40%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
CASH.TO Global X High Interest Savings ETF	1.06%	2.45%	4.53%	5.11%	2.38%	0.08%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	0.92%	2.28%	3.98%	6.90%	-11.86%	2.74%

Correlation

The correlation between CASH.TO and VAB.TO is -0.01, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 3, 2021	0.06

Return for Risk

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CASH.TO

CASH.TO Risk / Return Rank: 100
CASH.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
CASH.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
CASH.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 99
CASH.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
CASH.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 100

VAB.TO

VAB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 25
VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
VAB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 22
VAB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 23
VAB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 29
VAB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 27

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	CASH.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	9.31	0.75	+8.56
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	25.12	1.04	+24.08
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	6.79	1.13	+5.66
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	108.60	1.16	+107.44
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	373.54	2.92	+370.62

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CASH.TO Sharpe Ratio is 9.31, which is higher than the VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 0.75. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CASH.TO and VAB.TO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CASH.TO drawdown since its inception was -0.80%, smaller than the maximum VAB.TO drawdown of -18.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CASH.TO and VAB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CASH.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.80%	-18.39%	+17.59%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.02%	-2.83%	+2.81%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.06%	-4.84%	+4.78%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-15.82%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-18.39%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-2.59%	+2.59%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.00%	-4.07%	+4.07%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.01%	1.13%	-1.12%

Volatility

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH.TO) is 0.06%, while Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) has a volatility of 1.21%. This indicates that CASH.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CASH.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.06%	1.21%	-1.15%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.15%	3.43%	-3.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23%	4.38%	-4.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.61%	6.59%	-5.98%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.61%	6.47%	-5.86%

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CASH.TO has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than VAB.TO's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

CASH.TO vs. VAB.TO - Dividend Comparison

CASH.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.12%, less than VAB.TO's 3.36% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CASH.TO Global X High Interest Savings ETF	2.12%	2.53%	4.37%	5.05%	2.30%	0.10%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	3.36%	3.33%	3.19%	2.95%	2.87%	2.48%	2.51%	2.65%	2.80%	2.99%	2.75%	2.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CASH.TO and VAB.TO in my portfolio?

CASH.TO and VAB.TO have a correlation of -0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CASH.TO or VAB.TO?

On fees, VAB.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CASH.TO or VAB.TO?

VAB.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.11% for CASH.TO.

What is the main difference between CASH.TO and VAB.TO?

CASH.TO is categorized as Money Market, while VAB.TO is Total Bond Market. They also come from different issuers: Global X and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.11% for CASH.TO and 0.09% for VAB.TO.