JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO

Last updated Jul 4, 2026

JAPN.TO (CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF) and ZSB.TO (BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - JAPN.TO is a Japan Equities fund tracking the WisdomTree Japan Equity Index CAD, while ZSB.TO is a Canadian Government Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada Short Term Overall Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, JAPN.TO returned 26.12%/yr vs 2.14%/yr for ZSB.TO. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. JAPN.TO charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for ZSB.TO.

Performance

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF (JAPN.TO) and BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF (ZSB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, JAPN.TO achieves a 22.50% return, which is significantly higher than ZSB.TO's 1.38% return.

JAPN.TO

• 1D: 0.41%
• 1M: 2.65%
• 6M: 21.46%
• YTD: 22.50%
• 1Y: 52.23%
• 3Y*: 30.10%
• 5Y*: 26.12%
• 10Y*: —

ZSB.TO

• 1D: 0.08%
• 1M: 0.41%
• 6M: 1.44%
• YTD: 1.38%
• 1Y: 3.21%
• 3Y*: 5.02%
• 5Y*: 2.14%
• 10Y*: —

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

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
JAPN.TO CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF	22.50%	30.67%	29.25%	35.51%	10.82%	16.05%	2.20%	16.56%	-17.12%
ZSB.TO BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF	1.38%	3.77%	5.55%	5.05%	-4.09%	-1.20%	5.13%	2.95%	1.48%

Correlation

The correlation between JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO is 0.13, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.13
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.02
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.00
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 1, 2018	-0.01

The correlation between JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO shifts across timeframes, from -0.01 (all time) to 0.13 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

JAPN.TO

JAPN.TO Risk / Return Rank: 93
JAPN.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
JAPN.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
JAPN.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 93
JAPN.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
JAPN.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 91

ZSB.TO

ZSB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 58
ZSB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
ZSB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
ZSB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 69
ZSB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 53
ZSB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 52

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.

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF (JAPN.TO) and BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF (ZSB.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.

	JAPN.TO	ZSB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.85	1.65	+1.21
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.89	2.30	+1.59
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.53	1.34	+0.20
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.73	2.21	+2.52
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	17.49	7.31	+10.18

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current JAPN.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.85, which is higher than the ZSB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of JAPN.TO and ZSB.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

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum JAPN.TO drawdown since its inception was -28.88%, which is greater than ZSB.TO's maximum drawdown of -7.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	JAPN.TO	ZSB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-28.88%	-7.49%	-21.39%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.09%	-1.46%	-9.63%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-21.67%	-1.46%	-20.21%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.67%	-7.12%	-14.55%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.19%	-0.06%	-1.13%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.97%	-1.49%	-4.48%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.00%	0.44%	+2.56%

Volatility

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Volatility Comparison

CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF (JAPN.TO) has a higher volatility of 5.77% compared to BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF (ZSB.TO) at 0.52%. This indicates that JAPN.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZSB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	JAPN.TO	ZSB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.77%	0.52%	+5.25%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.28%	1.58%	+12.70%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	18.44%	1.96%	+16.48%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.13%	2.76%	+16.37%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.25%	2.63%	+16.62%

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

JAPN.TO has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is higher than ZSB.TO's 0.10% expense ratio.

Dividends

JAPN.TO vs. ZSB.TO - Dividend Comparison

JAPN.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.53%, less than ZSB.TO's 3.17% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
JAPN.TO CI WisdomTree Japan Equity Index ETF	1.53%	2.08%	1.58%	1.51%	2.59%	1.35%	1.36%	2.12%	0.62%
ZSB.TO BMO Short-Term Bond Index ETF	3.17%	3.16%	2.91%	2.54%	2.60%	2.43%	2.34%	2.40%	2.42%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO in my portfolio?

JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO have a correlation of 0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, JAPN.TO or ZSB.TO?

On fees, ZSB.TO is cheaper at 0.10% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, JAPN.TO or ZSB.TO?

ZSB.TO is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.48% for JAPN.TO.

What is the main difference between JAPN.TO and ZSB.TO?

JAPN.TO is categorized as Japan Equities, while ZSB.TO is Canadian Government Bonds. JAPN.TO tracks WisdomTree Japan Equity Index CAD, while ZSB.TO tracks FTSE Canada Short Term Overall Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: CI Investments and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for JAPN.TO and 0.10% for ZSB.TO.