GSWO vs. VFV.TO

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

GSWO (Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF) and VFV.TO (Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - GSWO is a Global Equities fund tracking the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while VFV.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Their correlation of 0.81 suggests significant overlap in exposure. GSWO charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VFV.TO.

Performance

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO) and Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, GSWO achieves a 8.59% return, which is significantly lower than VFV.TO's 11.28% return.

GSWO

• 1D: -2.69%
• 1M: -0.16%
• YTD: 8.59%
• 6M: 9.20%
• 1Y: 17.86%
• 3Y*: 17.89%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VFV.TO

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 3.15%
• YTD: 11.28%
• 6M: 10.87%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF	8.59%	7.90%
VFV.TO Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF	8.37%	14.66%

Correlation

The correlation between GSWO and VFV.TO is 0.81, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 9, 2025	0.81

Return for Risk

GSWO vs. VFV.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

GSWO

GSWO Risk / Return Rank: 50
GSWO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
GSWO Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
GSWO Omega Ratio Rank: 51
GSWO Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
GSWO Martin Ratio Rank: 57

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.

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO) and Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.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.

	GSWO	VFV.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.61	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.32	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.01	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.58	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	GSWO	VFV.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.61	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.94	2.37	-1.43

Drawdowns

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum GSWO drawdown since its inception was -17.77%, which is greater than VFV.TO's maximum drawdown of -8.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GSWO and VFV.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	GSWO	VFV.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-17.77%	-8.89%	-8.88%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.93%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-9.97%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.88%	-0.26%	-2.62%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.25%	-1.10%	-2.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.87%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	GSWO	VFV.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.92%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.46%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.11%	11.75%	-0.64%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.02%	11.75%	+1.27%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	13.02%	11.75%	+1.27%

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

GSWO has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VFV.TO's 0.09% 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

GSWO vs. VFV.TO - Dividend Comparison

GSWO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.65%, more than VFV.TO's 0.85% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF	1.65%	1.74%	1.75%	2.06%	1.73%
VFV.TO Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF	0.85%	0.92%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both GSWO and VFV.TO in my portfolio?

GSWO and VFV.TO have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, GSWO or VFV.TO?

On fees, VFV.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, GSWO or VFV.TO?

VFV.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for GSWO.

What is the main difference between GSWO and VFV.TO?

GSWO is categorized as Global Equities, while VFV.TO is S&P 500. GSWO tracks Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while VFV.TO tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Goldman Sachs and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for GSWO and 0.09% for VFV.TO.