FST.TO vs. VCE.TO

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

FST.TO (First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF) and VCE.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF) are both Canada Equities funds. FST.TO is actively managed, while VCE.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FST.TO returned 16.91%/yr vs 14.99%/yr for VCE.TO. A 0.57 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FST.TO charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VCE.TO.

Performance

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF (VCE.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FST.TO achieves a 9.32% return, which is significantly lower than VCE.TO's 13.32% return.

FST.TO

• 1D: 0.37%
• 1M: -0.03%
• 6M: 5.45%
• YTD: 9.32%
• 1Y: 26.44%
• 3Y*: 23.27%
• 5Y*: 16.91%
• 10Y*: —

VCE.TO

• 1D: 0.34%
• 1M: 1.36%
• 6M: 9.60%
• YTD: 13.32%
• 1Y: 30.32%
• 3Y*: 22.88%
• 5Y*: 14.99%
• 10Y*: 12.81%

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

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
FST.TO First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF	9.32%	29.77%	26.23%	12.01%	2.26%	19.40%	2.56%	16.10%	-8.27%	14.81%
VCE.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF	13.32%	26.45%	21.50%	12.34%	-5.14%	28.63%	4.18%	23.06%	-7.82%	8.84%

Correlation

The correlation between FST.TO and VCE.TO is 0.82, 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	0.82
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.75
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.61
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2016	0.57

Over the past year, FST.TO and VCE.TO have become more correlated (0.82) than their long-term average of 0.57, meaning their price movements have been converging.

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	FST.TO	VCE.TO
Consumer Cyclical	21.1%	3.3%
Financial Services	20.3%	38.3%
Industrials	19.0%	10.3%
Energy	15.3%	17.6%
Technology	12.0%	8.2%
Basic Materials	8.3%	15.9%
Consumer Defensive	4.1%	2.9%
Communication Services	-	1.6%
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	0.2%
Utilities	-	1.8%

Return for Risk

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

FST.TO

FST.TO Risk / Return Rank: 84
FST.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
FST.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 83
FST.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 81
FST.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 85
FST.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 89

VCE.TO

VCE.TO Risk / Return Rank: 88
VCE.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
VCE.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
VCE.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 88
VCE.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
VCE.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 92

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.

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF (VCE.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.

	FST.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.08	2.41	-0.33
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.97	3.18	-0.21
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.43	-0.05
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.79	3.77	+0.02
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.77	17.18	-1.41

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FST.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.08, which is comparable to the VCE.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.41. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FST.TO and VCE.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

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FST.TO drawdown since its inception was -38.15%, which is greater than VCE.TO's maximum drawdown of -35.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FST.TO and VCE.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	FST.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.15%	-35.93%	-2.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-7.01%	-8.09%	+1.08%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.33%	-12.15%	-0.18%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.73%	-15.86%	+1.13%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-35.93%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.47%	0.00%	-0.47%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.25%	-3.69%	+0.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.68%	1.77%	-0.09%

Volatility

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) has a higher volatility of 2.57% compared to Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF (VCE.TO) at 2.18%. This indicates that FST.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCE.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FST.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.57%	2.18%	+0.39%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.09%	10.05%	+0.04%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.81%	12.68%	+0.13%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.14%	12.84%	+1.30%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.28%	14.98%	+0.30%

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

FST.TO has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than VCE.TO's 0.06% expense ratio.

Dividends

FST.TO vs. VCE.TO - Dividend Comparison

FST.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.92%, less than VCE.TO's 2.12% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
FST.TO First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF	0.92%	1.01%	1.16%	1.63%	2.03%	1.87%	1.85%	1.91%	1.12%	0.67%	0.00%	0.00%
VCE.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF	2.12%	2.46%	2.89%	3.22%	3.27%	2.66%	2.99%	3.06%	3.27%	2.62%	2.69%	3.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FST.TO and VCE.TO in my portfolio?

FST.TO and VCE.TO have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, FST.TO or VCE.TO?

On fees, VCE.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, FST.TO or VCE.TO?

VCE.TO is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for FST.TO.

What is the main difference between FST.TO and VCE.TO?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for FST.TO and 0.06% for VCE.TO.