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CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

CWW.TO (iShares Global Water Index ETF) and XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CWW.TO is a Water Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, CWW.TO returned 8.42%/yr vs 9.77%/yr for XEF.TO. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CWW.TO charges 0.66%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for XEF.TO.

Performance

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Global Water Index ETF (CWW.TO) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CWW.TO achieves a 0.67% return, which is significantly lower than XEF.TO's 9.95% return. Over the past 10 years, CWW.TO has underperformed XEF.TO with an annualized return of 8.42%, while XEF.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 9.77% annualized return.

CWW.TO

1D
0.76%
1M
-0.37%
YTD
0.67%
6M
-4.32%
1Y
3.23%
3Y*
6.26%
5Y*
4.32%
10Y*
8.42%

XEF.TO

1D
-0.41%
1M
5.38%
YTD
9.95%
6M
10.72%
1Y
23.12%
3Y*
17.83%
5Y*
10.89%
10Y*
9.77%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
CWW.TO
iShares Global Water Index ETF		0.67%10.11%2.99%11.71%-16.52%27.08%12.93%26.85%-2.69%17.91%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		9.95%25.69%12.04%15.21%-9.53%10.36%6.13%15.86%-6.65%18.19%

Correlation

The correlation between CWW.TO and XEF.TO is 0.62, 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

0.62

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.60

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.66

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.69

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 16, 2013

0.63

The correlation between CWW.TO and XEF.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.60 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
CWW.TO
XEF.TO

Utilities

46.7%
3.8%

Industrials

44.2%
20.5%

Basic Materials

5.8%
6.6%

Energy

1.6%
4.0%

Technology

1.1%
10.2%

Consumer Cyclical

0.5%
8.2%

Real Estate

0.2%
3.1%

Communication Services

-

4.4%

Consumer Defensive

-

6.4%

Financial Services

-

22.9%

Healthcare

-

9.8%

Utilities

CWW.TO
46.7%
XEF.TO
3.8%

Industrials

CWW.TO
44.2%
XEF.TO
20.5%

Basic Materials

CWW.TO
5.8%
XEF.TO
6.6%

Energy

CWW.TO
1.6%
XEF.TO
4.0%

Technology

CWW.TO
1.1%
XEF.TO
10.2%

Consumer Cyclical

CWW.TO
0.5%
XEF.TO
8.2%

Real Estate

CWW.TO
0.2%
XEF.TO
3.1%

Communication Services

CWW.TO

-

XEF.TO
4.4%

Consumer Defensive

CWW.TO

-

XEF.TO
6.4%

Financial Services

CWW.TO

-

XEF.TO
22.9%

Healthcare

CWW.TO

-

XEF.TO
9.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Global Water Index ETF

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF

Often compared with CWW.TO:
CWW.TO vs. FIWCWW.TO vs. COW.TOCWW.TO vs. CIF.TOCWW.TO vs. KBWBCWW.TO vs. VFV.TOCWW.TO vs. XAW.TOCWW.TO vs. ENFR
Often compared with XEF.TO:
XEF.TO vs. XEC.TOXEF.TO vs. VIU.TOXEF.TO vs. ZEA.TOXEF.TO vs. XFH.TOXEF.TO vs. IEFAXEF.TO vs. XIC.TOXEF.TO vs. XEF-U.TO

Return for Risk

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
CWW.TO
CWW.TO Risk / Return Rank: 1212
Overall Rank
CWW.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1212
Sharpe Ratio Rank
CWW.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 1212
Sortino Ratio Rank
CWW.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 1111
Omega Ratio Rank
CWW.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 1313
Calmar Ratio Rank
CWW.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 1313
Martin Ratio Rank
XEF.TO
XEF.TO Risk / Return Rank: 4747
Overall Rank
XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4848
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 4848
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 4848
Omega Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 4141
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 4848
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Water Index ETF (CWW.TO) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.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.

CWW.TOXEF.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.23
1.68

-1.44

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
0.44
2.41

-1.98

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.05

1.31

-0.26

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.32

2.06

-1.75

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

0.79

8.22

-7.44

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CWW.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.23, which is lower than the XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CWW.TO and XEF.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.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

CWW.TOXEF.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.23

1.68

-1.44

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.28

0.81

-0.52

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.51

0.66

-0.15

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.38

0.71

-0.32

Drawdowns

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CWW.TO drawdown since its inception was -46.54%, which is greater than XEF.TO's maximum drawdown of -28.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CWW.TO and XEF.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

CWW.TOXEF.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-46.54%

-28.51%

-18.03%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-10.24%

-11.27%

+1.03%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.77%

-14.32%

-5.45%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-31.05%

-24.58%

-6.47%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-31.05%

-28.51%

-2.54%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-8.12%

-1.09%

-7.03%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.47%

-4.62%

-4.85%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.11%

2.82%

+1.29%

Volatility

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Global Water Index ETF (CWW.TO) is 4.23%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) has a volatility of 4.77%. This indicates that CWW.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

CWW.TOXEF.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.23%

4.77%

-0.54%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.85%

11.56%

-0.71%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

13.83%

13.85%

-0.02%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

15.40%

13.58%

+1.82%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

16.52%

14.85%

+1.67%

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

CWW.TO has a 0.66% expense ratio, which is higher than XEF.TO's 0.23% expense ratio.

Dividends

CWW.TO vs. XEF.TO - Dividend Comparison

CWW.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.56%, less than XEF.TO's 2.21% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
CWW.TO
iShares Global Water Index ETF		1.56%1.34%1.05%1.17%1.28%2.62%1.11%1.24%2.95%1.41%1.60%1.16%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		2.21%2.43%2.76%2.75%2.93%2.42%1.93%2.72%2.76%2.10%2.42%2.42%

Frequently Asked Questions

CWW.TO and XEF.TO have a correlation of 0.62, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XEF.TO is cheaper at 0.23% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XEF.TO is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.66% for CWW.TO.

CWW.TO is categorized as Water Equities, while XEF.TO is Foreign Large Cap Equities. CWW.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while XEF.TO tracks MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Their fees differ too: 0.66% for CWW.TO and 0.23% for XEF.TO.

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