RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO
RLB.TO (RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF) and DCU.TO (Desjardins Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF) are both Total Bond Market funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, RLB.TO returned 2.10%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for DCU.TO. At a 0.37 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with RLB.TO having a 1.23% return and DCU.TO slightly higher at 1.27%.
RLB.TO
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -0.05%
- 6M
- 0.96%
- YTD
- 1.23%
- 1Y
- 3.35%
- 3Y*
- 5.06%
- 5Y*
- 2.10%
- 10Y*
- 2.15%
DCU.TO
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- -0.44%
- 6M
- 0.65%
- YTD
- 1.27%
- 1Y
- 4.20%
- 3Y*
- 4.06%
- 5Y*
- 0.39%
- 10Y*
- —
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RLB.TO RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF | 1.23% | 3.97% | 5.39% | 5.93% | -5.15% | -0.78% | 5.76% | 4.54% | 1.07% | -0.79% |
DCU.TO Desjardins Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF | 1.27% | 2.19% | 3.83% | 6.53% | -11.04% | -2.76% | 8.04% | 6.70% | 0.31% | 1.59% |
Correlation
The correlation between RLB.TO and DCU.TO is 0.47, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 6, 2017 | 0.37 |
The correlation between RLB.TO and DCU.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.37 (all time) to 0.51 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO — Risk / Return Rank
RLB.TO
DCU.TO
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF (RLB.TO) and Desjardins Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (DCU.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.
| RLB.TO | DCU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.69 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.20 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.28 | 1.53 | +0.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.18 | 3.78 | +3.41 |
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Drawdowns
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RLB.TO drawdown since its inception was -13.93%, smaller than the maximum DCU.TO drawdown of -17.81%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RLB.TO and DCU.TO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RLB.TO | DCU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -13.93% | -17.81% | +3.88% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.48% | -2.76% | +1.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.48% | -4.43% | +2.95% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -7.68% | -15.40% | +7.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -13.93% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.16% | -1.90% | +1.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.52% | -5.21% | +3.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.47% | 1.11% | -0.64% |
Volatility
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF (RLB.TO) is 0.53%, while Desjardins Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (DCU.TO) has a volatility of 1.06%. This indicates that RLB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DCU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RLB.TO | DCU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.53% | 1.06% | -0.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.97% | 3.29% | -1.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.34% | 4.12% | -1.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 3.01% | 6.25% | -3.24% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.40% | 6.29% | -1.89% |
Dividends
RLB.TO vs. DCU.TO - Dividend Comparison
RLB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.47%, more than DCU.TO's 3.17% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DCU.TO Desjardins Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF | 3.17% | 3.07% | 2.92% | 2.58% | 3.49% | 3.00% | 2.82% | 2.79% | 2.90% | 2.12% | 0.00% |
RLB.TO RBC 1-5 Year Laddered Canadian Bond ETF | 3.47% | 3.25% | 2.99% | 2.65% | 2.54% | 2.27% | 2.44% | 2.66% | 2.81% | 2.95% | 2.32% |
Frequently Asked Questions
RLB.TO and DCU.TO have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
They also come from different issuers: RBC and Desjardins.
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