COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

COMM.TO (BMO Global Communications Index ETF) and VCN.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - COMM.TO is a Communications Equities fund tracking the Solactive Media and Communications Index, while VCN.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the FTSE Canada All Cap Domestic Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, COMM.TO returned 10.78%/yr vs 15.45%/yr for VCN.TO. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. COMM.TO charges 0.39%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VCN.TO.

Performance

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO Global Communications Index ETF (COMM.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF (VCN.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, COMM.TO achieves a 8.72% return, which is significantly lower than VCN.TO's 12.79% return.

COMM.TO

• 1D: 0.59%
• 1M: -0.30%
• 6M: 9.87%
• YTD: 8.72%
• 1Y: 11.86%
• 3Y*: 21.26%
• 5Y*: 10.78%
• 10Y*: —

VCN.TO

• 1D: 0.29%
• 1M: 0.71%
• 6M: 8.76%
• YTD: 12.79%
• 1Y: 33.20%
• 3Y*: 23.86%
• 5Y*: 15.45%
• 10Y*: 12.50%

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

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
COMM.TO BMO Global Communications Index ETF	8.72%	10.14%	38.71%	31.81%	-23.48%	10.09%	21.23%	21.63%	-3.00%
VCN.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF	12.79%	31.00%	22.16%	12.29%	-5.76%	25.65%	4.83%	22.09%	-7.82%

Correlation

The correlation between COMM.TO and VCN.TO is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.31
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.32
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.39
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 8, 2018	0.43

The correlation between COMM.TO and VCN.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.31 (1 year) to 0.43 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	COMM.TO	VCN.TO
Communication Services	62.6%	1.5%
Technology	35.1%	7.5%
Industrials	2.3%	10.3%
Real Estate	0.1%	1.5%
Basic Materials	-	18.3%
Consumer Cyclical	-	3.5%
Consumer Defensive	-	2.7%
Energy	-	17.6%
Financial Services	-	34.4%
Healthcare	-	0.1%
Utilities	-	2.7%

Return for Risk

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

COMM.TO

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

VCN.TO

VCN.TO Risk / Return Rank: 89
VCN.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
VCN.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
VCN.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 90
VCN.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
VCN.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 91

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.

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Global Communications Index ETF (COMM.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF (VCN.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.

	COMM.TO	VCN.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.77	2.56	-1.79
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.19	3.31	-2.12
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.16	1.46	-0.30
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.12	3.66	-2.55
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.32	16.73	-14.41

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current COMM.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.77, which is lower than the VCN.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.56. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of COMM.TO and VCN.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

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum COMM.TO drawdown since its inception was -29.87%, smaller than the maximum VCN.TO drawdown of -37.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for COMM.TO and VCN.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	COMM.TO	VCN.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-29.87%	-37.32%	+7.45%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.66%	-9.11%	-1.55%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.79%	-12.24%	-3.55%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.87%	-16.12%	-13.75%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-37.32%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.30%	0.00%	-2.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.39%	-3.87%	-2.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.13%	1.99%	+3.14%

Volatility

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Volatility Comparison

BMO Global Communications Index ETF (COMM.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.16% compared to Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF (VCN.TO) at 2.25%. This indicates that COMM.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCN.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	COMM.TO	VCN.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.16%	2.25%	+1.91%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.65%	10.59%	-0.94%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.40%	13.04%	+2.36%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.82%	13.11%	+1.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.83%	14.96%	+0.87%

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

COMM.TO has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is higher than VCN.TO's 0.06% expense ratio.

Dividends

COMM.TO vs. VCN.TO - Dividend Comparison

COMM.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.96%, less than VCN.TO's 2.01% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
COMM.TO BMO Global Communications Index ETF	0.96%	1.07%	1.13%	1.51%	2.09%	1.60%	1.31%	1.52%	1.24%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VCN.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF	2.01%	2.27%	2.71%	3.00%	3.17%	2.49%	2.72%	2.88%	2.83%	2.29%	2.36%	2.68%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both COMM.TO and VCN.TO in my portfolio?

COMM.TO and VCN.TO have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, COMM.TO or VCN.TO?

On fees, VCN.TO is cheaper at 0.06% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, COMM.TO or VCN.TO?

VCN.TO is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for COMM.TO.

What is the main difference between COMM.TO and VCN.TO?

COMM.TO is categorized as Communications Equities, while VCN.TO is Canada Equities. COMM.TO tracks Solactive Media and Communications Index, while VCN.TO tracks FTSE Canada All Cap Domestic Index. They also come from different issuers: BMO and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.39% for COMM.TO and 0.06% for VCN.TO.