CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO
CLF.TO (iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF) and XSB.TO (iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF) are both Canadian Government Bonds funds from iShares tracking the Morningstar Can 1-5Y Core Bd GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, CLF.TO returned 1.81%/yr vs 1.97%/yr for XSB.TO. A 0.65 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CLF.TO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for XSB.TO.
Performance
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CLF.TO achieves a 0.91% return, which is significantly lower than XSB.TO's 0.99% return. Over the past 10 years, CLF.TO has underperformed XSB.TO with an annualized return of 1.81%, while XSB.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 1.97% annualized return.
CLF.TO
- 1D
- 0.09%
- 1M
- 0.73%
- YTD
- 0.91%
- 6M
- 0.70%
- 1Y
- 2.48%
- 3Y*
- 4.19%
- 5Y*
- 1.74%
- 10Y*
- 1.81%
XSB.TO
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- 0.82%
- YTD
- 0.99%
- 6M
- 0.88%
- 1Y
- 2.88%
- 3Y*
- 4.74%
- 5Y*
- 2.02%
- 10Y*
- 1.97%
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLF.TO iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF | 0.91% | 3.36% | 4.82% | 4.58% | -3.98% | -1.27% | 5.53% | 3.97% | 1.68% | -0.49% |
XSB.TO iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 0.99% | 3.70% | 5.87% | 4.67% | -4.04% | -1.11% | 5.20% | 3.20% | 1.60% | 0.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between CLF.TO and XSB.TO is 0.86, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 1, 2008 | 0.65 |
Over the past year, CLF.TO and XSB.TO have become more correlated (0.86) than their long-term average of 0.65, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO — Risk / Return Rank
CLF.TO
XSB.TO
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF (CLF.TO) and iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSB.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.
| CLF.TO | XSB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.23 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.28 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.80 | 1.96 | -0.16 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.18 | 6.50 | -1.32 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CLF.TO | XSB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.22 | 1.45 | -0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.59 | 0.75 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 0.58 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.72 | 1.11 | -0.38 |
Drawdowns
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CLF.TO drawdown since its inception was -6.91%, smaller than the maximum XSB.TO drawdown of -8.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CLF.TO and XSB.TO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| CLF.TO | XSB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.91% | -8.65% | +1.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.38% | -1.47% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.42% | -1.47% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.80% | -6.99% | +0.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -6.91% | -8.65% | +1.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.26% | -0.15% | -0.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.08% | -0.83% | -0.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.48% | 0.44% | +0.04% |
Volatility
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF (CLF.TO) is 0.72%, while iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSB.TO) has a volatility of 0.78%. This indicates that CLF.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XSB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| CLF.TO | XSB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.72% | 0.78% | -0.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.62% | 1.68% | -0.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.04% | 2.00% | +0.04% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.98% | 2.72% | +0.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.37% | 3.40% | -0.03% |
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
CLF.TO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than XSB.TO's 0.10% 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
CLF.TO vs. XSB.TO - Dividend Comparison
CLF.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.25%, less than XSB.TO's 3.11% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLF.TO iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF | 2.25% | 2.22% | 2.22% | 2.23% | 2.10% | 1.98% | 2.81% | 3.93% | 2.67% | 2.91% | 3.12% | 3.29% |
XSB.TO iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 3.11% | 3.15% | 3.05% | 2.67% | 2.28% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 2.39% | 2.39% | 2.36% | 2.36% | 2.50% |
Frequently Asked Questions
CLF.TO and XSB.TO have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, XSB.TO is cheaper at 0.10% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XSB.TO is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.17% for CLF.TO.
Both ETFs track Morningstar Can 1-5Y Core Bd GR CAD. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for CLF.TO and 0.10% for XSB.TO.
Find the right allocation for CLF.TO and XSB.TO
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer