CEW.TO vs. XST.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

CEW.TO (iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF) and XST.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CEW.TO is a Financials Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl Fin Svc GR CAD, while XST.TO is a Consumer Staples Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, CEW.TO returned 16.02%/yr vs 19.03%/yr for XST.TO. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.61% expense ratio.

Performance

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CEW.TO achieves a 22.02% return, which is significantly higher than XST.TO's 4.80% return. Over the past 10 years, CEW.TO has underperformed XST.TO with an annualized return of 16.02%, while XST.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 19.03% annualized return.

CEW.TO

• 1D: 1.03%
• 1M: 9.08%
• YTD: 22.02%
• 6M: 20.13%
• 1Y: 51.89%
• 3Y*: 31.90%
• 5Y*: 19.14%
• 10Y*: 16.02%

XST.TO

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: 7.14%
• YTD: 4.80%
• 6M: 5.68%
• 1Y: 10.57%
• 3Y*: 47.03%
• 5Y*: 30.79%
• 10Y*: 19.03%

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

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CEW.TO iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF	22.02%	32.70%	29.62%	17.18%	-6.76%	29.51%	-0.38%	25.64%	-12.71%	12.06%
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	4.80%	16.38%	140.92%	7.25%	9.63%	21.31%	4.28%	12.92%	2.53%	7.95%

Correlation

The correlation between CEW.TO and XST.TO is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.17
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.31
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.32
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.29
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 24, 2012	0.29

The correlation between CEW.TO and XST.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.17 (1 year) to 0.32 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	CEW.TO	XST.TO
Financial Services	100.0%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	25.1%
Consumer Defensive	-	74.9%
Energy	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

CEW.TO

CEW.TO Risk / Return Rank: 96
CEW.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
CEW.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 95

XST.TO

XST.TO Risk / Return Rank: 22
XST.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 22
XST.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 21
XST.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 21
XST.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
XST.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 22

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.

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.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.

	CEW.TO	XST.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	4.44	0.65	+3.79
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.95	1.02	+4.93
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.82	1.13	+0.69
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	7.32	1.01	+6.31
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	27.01	2.37	+24.64

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CEW.TO Sharpe Ratio is 4.44, which is higher than the XST.TO Sharpe Ratio of 0.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CEW.TO and XST.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

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CEW.TO drawdown since its inception was -53.50%, which is greater than XST.TO's maximum drawdown of -25.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CEW.TO and XST.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CEW.TO	XST.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.50%	-25.42%	-28.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.13%	-10.52%	+3.39%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.72%	-10.86%	-1.86%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.41%	-10.86%	-11.55%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.66%	-25.42%	-18.24%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-3.60%	+3.60%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.94%	-3.66%	-3.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.93%	4.48%	-2.55%

Volatility

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.TO) is 3.79%, while iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO) has a volatility of 4.89%. This indicates that CEW.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XST.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CEW.TO	XST.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.79%	4.89%	-1.10%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.17%	12.47%	-2.30%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.74%	16.38%	-4.64%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.57%	47.19%	-33.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.06%	35.42%	-18.36%

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both CEW.TO and XST.TO have an expense ratio of 0.61%.

Dividends

CEW.TO vs. XST.TO - Dividend Comparison

CEW.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.34%, more than XST.TO's 0.66% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CEW.TO iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF	2.34%	2.82%	3.41%	3.98%	3.95%	3.10%	3.83%	3.39%	3.13%	2.62%	2.70%	2.91%
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	0.66%	0.68%	0.87%	1.57%	1.48%	1.37%	1.48%	1.46%	1.62%	1.80%	1.03%	1.24%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CEW.TO and XST.TO in my portfolio?

CEW.TO and XST.TO have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CEW.TO or XST.TO?

Both ETFs have the same 0.61% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CEW.TO or XST.TO?

CEW.TO and XST.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.61% per year.

What is the main difference between CEW.TO and XST.TO?

CEW.TO is categorized as Financials Equities, while XST.TO is Consumer Staples Equities. CEW.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl Fin Svc GR CAD, while XST.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl GR CAD.