CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

CDIV.TO (Manulife Smart Dividend ETF) and VGH.TO (Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged) are both Dividend funds. CDIV.TO is actively managed, while VGH.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, CDIV.TO returned 13.50%/yr vs 8.84%/yr for VGH.TO. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CDIV.TO charges 0.28%/yr vs 0.31%/yr for VGH.TO.

Performance

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.TO) and Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged (VGH.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CDIV.TO achieves a 14.31% return, which is significantly higher than VGH.TO's 6.70% return.

CDIV.TO

• 1D: -0.55%
• 1M: 3.71%
• YTD: 14.31%
• 6M: 10.66%
• 1Y: 31.29%
• 3Y*: 20.24%
• 5Y*: 13.50%
• 10Y*: —

VGH.TO

• 1D: 0.07%
• 1M: 4.04%
• YTD: 6.70%
• 6M: 5.84%
• 1Y: 17.06%
• 3Y*: 14.24%
• 5Y*: 8.84%
• 10Y*: 11.43%

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

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
CDIV.TO Manulife Smart Dividend ETF	14.31%	25.88%	15.23%	11.77%	-2.50%	26.20%	2.07%
VGH.TO Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged	6.70%	11.44%	15.35%	12.77%	-11.08%	22.47%	2.19%

Correlation

The correlation between CDIV.TO and VGH.TO is 0.58, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.58
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.64
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.67
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 26, 2020	0.65

The correlation between CDIV.TO and VGH.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.58 to 0.67 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

CDIV.TO

CDIV.TO Risk / Return Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
CDIV.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 87
CDIV.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 84

VGH.TO

VGH.TO Risk / Return Rank: 47
VGH.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 49
VGH.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
VGH.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 47
VGH.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
VGH.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 49

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.

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.TO) and Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged (VGH.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.

	CDIV.TO	VGH.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.61	1.68	+0.93
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.21	2.46	+0.75
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.53	1.30	+0.24
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.20	2.03	+2.17
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	17.38	8.05	+9.32
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CDIV.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.61, which is higher than the VGH.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CDIV.TO and VGH.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	CDIV.TO	VGH.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.61	1.68	+0.93
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.13	0.63	+0.50
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.73	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.40	0.72	+0.68

Drawdowns

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CDIV.TO drawdown since its inception was -16.44%, smaller than the maximum VGH.TO drawdown of -32.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CDIV.TO and VGH.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CDIV.TO	VGH.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-16.44%	-32.82%	+16.38%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.48%	-8.42%	+0.94%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-9.64%	-15.16%	+5.52%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.44%	-21.34%	+4.90%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-32.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.55%	0.00%	-0.55%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.83%	-3.67%	+0.84%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.81%	2.12%	-0.31%

Volatility

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Volatility Comparison

Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.TO) has a higher volatility of 2.82% compared to Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged (VGH.TO) at 2.19%. This indicates that CDIV.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGH.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CDIV.TO	VGH.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.82%	2.19%	+0.63%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.70%	7.56%	+3.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.05%	10.22%	+1.83%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.05%	14.21%	-2.16%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.90%	15.75%	-3.85%

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CDIV.TO has a 0.28% expense ratio, which is lower than VGH.TO's 0.31% expense ratio.

Dividends

CDIV.TO vs. VGH.TO - Dividend Comparison

CDIV.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.28%, more than VGH.TO's 1.04% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CDIV.TO Manulife Smart Dividend ETF	2.28%	3.02%	3.41%	3.45%	3.41%	2.38%	0.07%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VGH.TO Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETF CAD-Hedged	1.04%	1.15%	1.28%	1.34%	1.39%	1.22%	1.21%	1.23%	1.58%	1.39%	1.63%	1.81%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CDIV.TO and VGH.TO in my portfolio?

CDIV.TO and VGH.TO have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CDIV.TO or VGH.TO?

On fees, CDIV.TO is cheaper at 0.28% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CDIV.TO or VGH.TO?

CDIV.TO is cheaper with a 0.28% expense ratio, compared with 0.31% for VGH.TO.

What is the main difference between CDIV.TO and VGH.TO?

They also come from different issuers: Manulife and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.28% for CDIV.TO and 0.31% for VGH.TO.