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DSI vs. XESG.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

DSI vs. XESG.TO

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

DSI (iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF) and XESG.TO (iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DSI is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, while XESG.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Canada GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, DSI returned 12.74%/yr vs 9.28%/yr for XESG.TO. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. DSI charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for XESG.TO.

Performance

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DSI achieves a 9.87% return, which is significantly higher than XESG.TO's 8.30% return.

DSI

1D
0.83%
1M
-1.12%
YTD
9.87%
6M
10.52%
1Y
27.10%
3Y*
20.62%
5Y*
12.74%
10Y*
15.40%

XESG.TO

1D
0.62%
1M
-0.17%
YTD
8.30%
6M
6.45%
1Y
25.69%
3Y*
19.26%
5Y*
9.28%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
DSI
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF		9.87%18.03%22.38%28.51%-21.71%31.32%20.94%14.53%
XESG.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF		8.30%32.39%10.84%12.99%-13.14%23.15%3.60%14.68%

Correlation

The correlation between DSI and XESG.TO is 0.59, 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

0.59

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

0.60

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

0.61

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 22, 2019

0.52

The correlation between DSI and XESG.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.52 to 0.61 - a consistent structural relationship.

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
DSI
XESG.TO

Technology

43.1%
8.3%

Communication Services

12.8%
0.1%

Financial Services

10.1%
38.5%

Industrials

8.0%
8.9%

Consumer Cyclical

8.0%
2.2%

Healthcare

7.0%
0.1%

Consumer Defensive

4.0%
1.9%

Real Estate

2.6%
0.2%

Basic Materials

2.2%
17.9%

Energy

1.5%
19.3%

Utilities

0.9%
2.7%

Technology

DSI
43.1%
XESG.TO
8.3%

Communication Services

DSI
12.8%
XESG.TO
0.1%

Financial Services

DSI
10.1%
XESG.TO
38.5%

Industrials

DSI
8.0%
XESG.TO
8.9%

Consumer Cyclical

DSI
8.0%
XESG.TO
2.2%

Healthcare

DSI
7.0%
XESG.TO
0.1%

Consumer Defensive

DSI
4.0%
XESG.TO
1.9%

Real Estate

DSI
2.6%
XESG.TO
0.2%

Basic Materials

DSI
2.2%
XESG.TO
17.9%

Energy

DSI
1.5%
XESG.TO
19.3%

Utilities

DSI
0.9%
XESG.TO
2.7%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF

iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF

Often compared with DSI:
DSI vs. SPYDSI vs. VOODSI vs. FSLEXDSI vs. XSUS.TODSI vs. VTIDSI vs. QQQDSI vs. SPYG
Often compared with XESG.TO:
XESG.TO vs. XCSR.TOXESG.TO vs. XEQT.TOXESG.TO vs. SCHGXESG.TO vs. VFV.TOXESG.TO vs. SPYXESG.TO vs. XIU.TOXESG.TO vs. GEQT.TO

Return for Risk

DSI vs. XESG.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
DSI
DSI Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
DSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
DSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 6464
Sortino Ratio Rank
DSI Omega Ratio Rank: 6464
Omega Ratio Rank
DSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 5252
Calmar Ratio Rank
DSI Martin Ratio Rank: 6161
Martin Ratio Rank
XESG.TO
XESG.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7575
Overall Rank
XESG.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7676
Omega Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7171
Calmar Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8080
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.

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.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.

DSIXESG.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.88
1.82

+0.05

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.56
2.37

+0.19

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.34

1.33

+0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.31

2.69

-0.38

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.56

10.85

-1.29

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DSI Sharpe Ratio is 1.88, which is comparable to the XESG.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.82. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DSI and XESG.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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Drawdowns

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DSI drawdown since its inception was -54.23%, which is greater than XESG.TO's maximum drawdown of -44.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DSI and XESG.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

DSIXESG.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-54.23%

-44.41%

-9.82%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.05%

-9.72%

-1.33%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-20.58%

-15.36%

-5.22%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.36%

-25.05%

-3.31%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.10%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.26%

-1.74%

-0.52%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.51%

-7.12%

-0.39%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.67%

2.40%

+0.27%

Volatility

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) has a higher volatility of 5.22% compared to iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.TO) at 4.57%. This indicates that DSI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XESG.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

DSIXESG.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.22%

4.57%

+0.65%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.81%

11.81%

-1.00%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

13.60%

14.33%

-0.73%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

18.00%

15.45%

+2.55%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.74%

23.02%

-4.28%

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

DSI has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than XESG.TO's 0.16% 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

DSI vs. XESG.TO - Dividend Comparison

DSI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.86%, less than XESG.TO's 1.99% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
DSI
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF		0.86%0.92%1.03%1.19%1.39%0.99%1.22%1.40%1.63%1.28%1.51%1.46%
XESG.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF		1.99%2.17%2.57%2.89%2.77%2.01%2.30%1.08%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

DSI and XESG.TO have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XESG.TO is cheaper at 0.16% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XESG.TO is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for DSI.

DSI is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while XESG.TO is Canada Equities. DSI tracks MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, while XESG.TO tracks Morningstar Canada GR CAD. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for DSI and 0.16% for XESG.TO.

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