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GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

GBAL.TO (iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio) and VRIF.TO (Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, GBAL.TO returned 9.04%/yr vs 4.78%/yr for VRIF.TO. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. GBAL.TO charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.29%/yr for VRIF.TO.

Performance

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.TO) and Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio (VRIF.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, GBAL.TO achieves a 9.39% return, which is significantly higher than VRIF.TO's 5.15% return.

GBAL.TO

1D
0.16%
1M
5.46%
YTD
9.39%
6M
7.35%
1Y
18.03%
3Y*
15.66%
5Y*
9.04%
10Y*
—

VRIF.TO

1D
0.26%
1M
2.76%
YTD
5.15%
6M
5.07%
1Y
12.25%
3Y*
9.83%
5Y*
4.78%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
GBAL.TO
iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio		9.39%11.77%17.38%14.48%-11.94%11.32%4.95%
VRIF.TO
Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio		5.15%10.58%8.44%8.97%-11.50%7.44%5.55%

Correlation

The correlation between GBAL.TO and VRIF.TO is 0.80, 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

0.80

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

0.65

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

0.59

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 17, 2020

0.59

Over the past year, GBAL.TO and VRIF.TO have become more correlated (0.80) than their long-term average of 0.59, meaning their price movements have been converging.

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
GBAL.TO
VRIF.TO

Technology

22.2%
16.9%

Financial Services

18.1%
22.4%

Industrials

5.4%
13.4%

Basic Materials

4.5%
9.4%

Consumer Cyclical

3.1%
7.6%

Healthcare

2.9%
6.6%

Real Estate

1.9%
2.3%

Communication Services

1.8%
5.0%

Consumer Defensive

1.7%
4.8%

Utilities

0.6%
3.0%

Energy

0.0%
8.6%

Technology

GBAL.TO
22.2%
VRIF.TO
16.9%

Financial Services

GBAL.TO
18.1%
VRIF.TO
22.4%

Industrials

GBAL.TO
5.4%
VRIF.TO
13.4%

Basic Materials

GBAL.TO
4.5%
VRIF.TO
9.4%

Consumer Cyclical

GBAL.TO
3.1%
VRIF.TO
7.6%

Healthcare

GBAL.TO
2.9%
VRIF.TO
6.6%

Real Estate

GBAL.TO
1.9%
VRIF.TO
2.3%

Communication Services

GBAL.TO
1.8%
VRIF.TO
5.0%

Consumer Defensive

GBAL.TO
1.7%
VRIF.TO
4.8%

Utilities

GBAL.TO
0.6%
VRIF.TO
3.0%

Energy

GBAL.TO
0.0%
VRIF.TO
8.6%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio

Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio

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Often compared with VRIF.TO:
VRIF.TO vs. VBAL.TOVRIF.TO vs. ZMI.TOVRIF.TO vs. ZBAL.TOVRIF.TO vs. XTR.TOVRIF.TO vs. PID.TOVRIF.TO vs. XEI.TOVRIF.TO vs. VDY.TO

Return for Risk

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
GBAL.TO
GBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6060
Overall Rank
GBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5858
Sharpe Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6060
Sortino Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5858
Calmar Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6363
Martin Ratio Rank
VRIF.TO
VRIF.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
VRIF.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7272
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VRIF.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
VRIF.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7676
Omega Ratio Rank
VRIF.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5555
Calmar Ratio Rank
VRIF.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6363
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.

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.TO) and Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio (VRIF.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.

GBAL.TOVRIF.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.92
2.29

-0.37

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.79
3.37

-0.58

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.37

1.44

-0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.83

2.70

+0.13

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

11.25

11.27

-0.01

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

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current GBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.92, which is comparable to the VRIF.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.29. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of GBAL.TO and VRIF.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

GBAL.TOVRIF.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.92

2.29

-0.37

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.94

0.77

+0.17

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

1.03

0.93

+0.10

Drawdowns

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GBAL.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.92%, which is greater than VRIF.TO's maximum drawdown of -16.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GBAL.TO and VRIF.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

GBAL.TOVRIF.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-18.92%

-16.19%

-2.73%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-6.40%

-4.55%

-1.85%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-10.24%

-5.01%

-5.23%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-18.92%

-16.19%

-2.73%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.08%

0.00%

-0.08%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.30%

-3.86%

-0.44%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.61%

1.09%

+0.52%

Volatility

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.TO) has a higher volatility of 3.19% compared to Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio (VRIF.TO) at 2.14%. This indicates that GBAL.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VRIF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

GBAL.TOVRIF.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.19%

2.14%

+1.05%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.87%

4.61%

+3.26%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

9.42%

5.37%

+4.05%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

9.70%

6.23%

+3.47%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

9.53%

6.25%

+3.28%

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

GBAL.TO has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than VRIF.TO's 0.29% expense ratio.

Dividends

GBAL.TO vs. VRIF.TO - Dividend Comparison

GBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.71%, less than VRIF.TO's 3.72% yield.

PositionTTM202520242023202220212020
GBAL.TO
iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio		1.71%1.83%1.84%2.40%1.87%1.43%0.96%
VRIF.TO
Vanguard Retirement Income ETF Portfolio		3.72%3.77%3.96%4.33%4.72%3.86%1.27%

Frequently Asked Questions

GBAL.TO and VRIF.TO have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, GBAL.TO is cheaper at 0.25% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

GBAL.TO is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.29% for VRIF.TO.

They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for GBAL.TO and 0.29% for VRIF.TO.

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