SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO

Last updated Jul 25, 2026

SYLD.TO (Purpose Strategic Yield Fund) and VDY.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SYLD.TO is a High Yield Bonds fund actively managed by Purpose Investments Inc., while VDY.TO is a Dividend fund tracking the FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index. SYLD.TO is actively managed, while VDY.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SYLD.TO returned 4.88%/yr vs 19.41%/yr for VDY.TO. At a 0.15 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SYLD.TO charges 0.95%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for VDY.TO.

Performance

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Purpose Strategic Yield Fund (SYLD.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SYLD.TO achieves a 3.38% return, which is significantly lower than VDY.TO's 29.32% return.

SYLD.TO

• 1D: -0.10%
• 1M: 0.03%
• 6M: 2.66%
• YTD: 3.38%
• 1Y: 9.54%
• 3Y*: 10.24%
• 5Y*: 4.88%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 6.24%

VDY.TO

• 1D: 0.47%
• 1M: 4.35%
• 6M: 26.14%
• YTD: 29.32%
• 1Y: 51.73%
• 3Y*: 28.27%
• 5Y*: 19.41%
• 10Y*: 14.66%
• ALL TIME*: 13.21%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
SYLD.TO Purpose Strategic Yield Fund	CA$51.46K	CA$69.71K	CA$109.09K
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	CA$18.36M	CA$18.53M	CA$18.52M

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
SYLD.TO Purpose Strategic Yield Fund	3.38%	10.15%	13.23%	6.84%	-8.64%	12.53%	10.72%	8.65%	-3.02%
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	29.32%	29.21%	21.44%	8.41%	-0.23%	36.60%	-1.37%	21.42%	-3.58%

Correlation

The correlation between SYLD.TO and VDY.TO is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.19
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.21
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 5, 2018	0.15

The correlation between SYLD.TO and VDY.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.15 (all time) to 0.27 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

SYLD.TO

SYLD.TO Risk / Return Rank: 96
SYLD.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
SYLD.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
SYLD.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 96
SYLD.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
SYLD.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 97

VDY.TO

VDY.TO Risk / Return Rank: 99
VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
VDY.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
VDY.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 98

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.

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Purpose Strategic Yield Fund (SYLD.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.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.

	SYLD.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.87	6.00	-3.13
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.78	8.38	-3.60
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.60	2.17	-0.57
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	6.91	16.67	-9.76
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	27.25	66.82	-39.58

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SYLD.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.87, which is lower than the VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio of 6.00. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SYLD.TO and VDY.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

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SYLD.TO drawdown since its inception was -32.17%, smaller than the maximum VDY.TO drawdown of -39.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SYLD.TO and VDY.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	SYLD.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.17%	-39.21%	+7.04%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.39%	-3.12%	+1.73%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.40%	-10.38%	+6.98%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-9.48%	-16.17%	+6.69%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-39.21%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.25%	-0.22%	-0.03%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.56%	-4.44%	+1.88%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.35%	0.78%	-0.43%

Volatility

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Purpose Strategic Yield Fund (SYLD.TO) is 0.61%, while Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) has a volatility of 2.68%. This indicates that SYLD.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VDY.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SYLD.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.61%	2.68%	-2.07%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.98%	6.93%	-4.95%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.43%	8.66%	-5.23%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	4.49%	11.54%	-7.05%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	10.06%	15.91%	-5.85%

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

SYLD.TO has a 0.95% expense ratio, which is higher than VDY.TO's 0.22% expense ratio.

Dividends

SYLD.TO vs. VDY.TO - Dividend Comparison

SYLD.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.82%, more than VDY.TO's 2.99% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SYLD.TO Purpose Strategic Yield Fund	5.82%	5.85%	6.07%	6.45%	6.46%	5.56%	5.91%	6.13%	4.70%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	2.99%	3.59%	4.37%	4.64%	4.42%	3.46%	4.59%	4.25%	4.44%	3.42%	3.25%	4.11%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SYLD.TO and VDY.TO in my portfolio?

SYLD.TO and VDY.TO have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SYLD.TO or VDY.TO?

On fees, VDY.TO is cheaper at 0.22% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SYLD.TO or VDY.TO?

VDY.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for SYLD.TO.

What is the main difference between SYLD.TO and VDY.TO?

SYLD.TO is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while VDY.TO is Dividend. They also come from different issuers: Purpose Investments Inc. and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.95% for SYLD.TO and 0.22% for VDY.TO.