CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

CIAI.TO (CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF) and XEQT.TO (iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio) are both exchange-traded funds - CIAI.TO is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by CI Investments, while XEQT.TO is a Global Equities fund actively managed by iShares. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, CIAI.TO returned 63.98% vs 29.24% for XEQT.TO. A 0.71 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CIAI.TO charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for XEQT.TO.

Performance

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (CIAI.TO) and iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio (XEQT.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CIAI.TO achieves a 31.59% return, which is significantly higher than XEQT.TO's 12.29% return.

CIAI.TO

• 1D: -0.87%
• 1M: 16.11%
• YTD: 31.59%
• 6M: 26.69%
• 1Y: 63.98%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XEQT.TO

• 1D: -0.56%
• 1M: 5.98%
• YTD: 12.29%
• 6M: 11.20%
• 1Y: 29.24%
• 3Y*: 21.78%
• 5Y*: 13.72%
• 10Y*: —

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

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
CIAI.TO CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF	31.59%	18.84%	29.92%
XEQT.TO iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio	12.29%	19.47%	12.81%

Correlation

The correlation between CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO is 0.71, 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	0.71
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 8, 2024	0.71

The correlation between CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.71 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

CIAI.TO

CIAI.TO Risk / Return Rank: 69
CIAI.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
CIAI.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 70
CIAI.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 71
CIAI.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 68
CIAI.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 56

XEQT.TO

XEQT.TO Risk / Return Rank: 75
XEQT.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
XEQT.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
XEQT.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 76
XEQT.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
XEQT.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 78

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.

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (CIAI.TO) and iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio (XEQT.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.

	CIAI.TO	XEQT.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.69	2.53	+0.17
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.23	3.49	-0.26
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.43	1.47	-0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.40	3.56	-0.16
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.79	15.50	-5.71
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CIAI.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.69, which is comparable to the XEQT.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CIAI.TO and XEQT.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

	CIAI.TO	XEQT.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.69	2.53	+0.17
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.05	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.44	0.95	+0.49

Drawdowns

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CIAI.TO drawdown since its inception was -31.22%, roughly equal to the maximum XEQT.TO drawdown of -29.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	CIAI.TO	XEQT.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.22%	-29.74%	-1.48%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-18.93%	-8.25%	-10.68%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-15.08%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-19.56%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.87%	-0.56%	-0.31%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.50%	-4.11%	-2.39%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.55%	1.89%	+4.66%

Volatility

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Volatility Comparison

CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (CIAI.TO) has a higher volatility of 7.14% compared to iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio (XEQT.TO) at 3.70%. This indicates that CIAI.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XEQT.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CIAI.TO	XEQT.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.14%	3.70%	+3.44%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.43%	9.38%	+9.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	23.90%	11.63%	+12.27%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	28.40%	13.12%	+15.28%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	28.40%	15.56%	+12.84%

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CIAI.TO has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than XEQT.TO's 0.20% expense ratio.

Dividends

CIAI.TO vs. XEQT.TO - Dividend Comparison

CIAI.TO has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XEQT.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.48%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
CIAI.TO CI Global Artificial Intelligence ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XEQT.TO iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio	1.48%	1.66%	2.01%	2.07%	2.12%	1.64%	1.66%	1.19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO in my portfolio?

CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CIAI.TO or XEQT.TO?

On fees, XEQT.TO is cheaper at 0.20% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CIAI.TO or XEQT.TO?

XEQT.TO is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for CIAI.TO.

What is the main difference between CIAI.TO and XEQT.TO?

CIAI.TO is categorized as Technology Equities, while XEQT.TO is Global Equities. They also come from different issuers: CI Investments and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for CIAI.TO and 0.20% for XEQT.TO.