DFND.AS vs. VA.TO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

DFND.AS (iShares Global Aerospace & Defence UCITS ETF) and VA.TO (Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DFND.AS is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the S&P Developed BMI Select Aerospace & Defense 35/20 Capped Index NR, while VA.TO is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. DFND.AS charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for VA.TO.

Performance

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Global Aerospace & Defence UCITS ETF (DFND.AS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

DFND.AS is traded in USD, while VA.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the VA.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

DFND.AS

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VA.TO

• 1D: 0.16%
• 1M: 2.67%
• YTD: 26.55%
• 6M: 28.11%
• 1Y: 48.87%
• 3Y*: 20.68%
• 5Y*: 9.58%
• 10Y*: 10.57%

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

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
DFND.AS iShares Global Aerospace & Defence UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	16.29%
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	26.55%	32.11%	1.27%

Correlation

The correlation between DFND.AS and VA.TO is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 16, 2024	0.11

Return for Risk

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

DFND.AS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

VA.TO

VA.TO Risk / Return Rank: 86
VA.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
VA.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
VA.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 87
VA.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
VA.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 87

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.

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Aerospace & Defence UCITS ETF (DFND.AS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.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.

	DFND.AS	VA.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	2.26	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	2.93	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.42	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	3.68	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	14.26	—

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	DFND.AS	VA.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	—	-33.17%	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-13.08%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-15.96%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-31.18%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-33.17%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	—	-3.11%	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	—	-8.71%	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	3.37%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	DFND.AS	VA.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	9.76%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	18.83%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	21.35%	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	—	16.51%	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	—	16.69%	—

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

DFND.AS has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VA.TO's 0.22% expense ratio.

Dividends

DFND.AS vs. VA.TO - Dividend Comparison

DFND.AS has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VA.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.68%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DFND.AS iShares Global Aerospace & Defence UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	1.68%	2.17%	2.31%	2.57%	3.10%	2.35%	2.14%	2.55%	2.89%	1.71%	1.63%	1.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both DFND.AS and VA.TO in my portfolio?

DFND.AS and VA.TO have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, DFND.AS or VA.TO?

On fees, VA.TO is cheaper at 0.22% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, DFND.AS or VA.TO?

VA.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for DFND.AS.

What is the main difference between DFND.AS and VA.TO?

DFND.AS is categorized as Industrials Equities, while VA.TO is Asia Pacific Equities. DFND.AS tracks S&P Developed BMI Select Aerospace & Defense 35/20 Capped Index NR, while VA.TO tracks FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for DFND.AS and 0.22% for VA.TO.