TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

TCLB.TO (TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF) and ZFL.TO (BMO Long Federal Bond) are both Canadian Government Bonds funds - TCLB.TO tracks the FTSE Canada Long Term Federal Bond Index while ZFL.TO tracks the FTSE TMX Canada Long Term Federal Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, TCLB.TO returned -2.53%/yr vs -3.89%/yr for ZFL.TO. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. TCLB.TO charges 0.23%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for ZFL.TO.

Performance

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF (TCLB.TO) and BMO Long Federal Bond (ZFL.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TCLB.TO achieves a 2.20% return, which is significantly lower than ZFL.TO's 2.39% return.

TCLB.TO

• 1D: -0.09%
• 1M: 3.04%
• YTD: 2.20%
• 6M: -0.22%
• 1Y: 0.25%
• 3Y*: 0.46%
• 5Y*: -2.53%
• 10Y*: —

ZFL.TO

• 1D: -0.33%
• 1M: 2.93%
• YTD: 2.39%
• 6M: -0.37%
• 1Y: -0.83%
• 3Y*: -0.42%
• 5Y*: -3.89%
• 10Y*: -1.37%

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

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
TCLB.TO TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF	2.20%	-3.46%	-1.09%	6.70%	-18.75%	-7.23%	10.77%	-1.73%
ZFL.TO BMO Long Federal Bond	2.39%	-5.14%	-2.20%	7.30%	-23.89%	-7.47%	12.68%	-2.11%

Correlation

The correlation between TCLB.TO and ZFL.TO is 0.80, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.80
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.91
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.77
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 3, 2019	0.68

The correlation between TCLB.TO and ZFL.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.68 (all time) to 0.91 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

TCLB.TO

TCLB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 9
TCLB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9
TCLB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 9
TCLB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 9
TCLB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 10
TCLB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 9

ZFL.TO

ZFL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7
ZFL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8
ZFL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7
ZFL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7
ZFL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7
ZFL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8

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.

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF (TCLB.TO) and BMO Long Federal Bond (ZFL.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.

	TCLB.TO	ZFL.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.03	-0.09	+0.11
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.10	-0.05	+0.15
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	0.99	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.05	-0.12	+0.17
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.09	-0.22	+0.30
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TCLB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.03, which is higher than the ZFL.TO Sharpe Ratio of -0.09. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TCLB.TO and ZFL.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	TCLB.TO	ZFL.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.03	-0.09	+0.11
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.22	-0.27	+0.04
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	-0.11	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	-0.23	0.16	-0.39

Drawdowns

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TCLB.TO drawdown since its inception was -36.66%, smaller than the maximum ZFL.TO drawdown of -40.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TCLB.TO and ZFL.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	TCLB.TO	ZFL.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.66%	-40.32%	+3.66%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-5.57%	-6.68%	+1.11%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.18%	-14.51%	+2.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.32%	-32.25%	+3.93%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-40.32%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-26.72%	-31.87%	+5.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-24.85%	-12.45%	-12.40%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.43%	3.82%	-0.39%

Volatility

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Volatility Comparison

TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF (TCLB.TO) and BMO Long Federal Bond (ZFL.TO) have volatilities of 3.27% and 3.14%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TCLB.TO	ZFL.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.27%	3.14%	+0.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.91%	7.05%	-0.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	9.48%	9.72%	-0.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.04%	14.71%	-0.67%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.10%	12.54%	+2.56%

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

TCLB.TO has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is higher than ZFL.TO's 0.22% 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

TCLB.TO vs. ZFL.TO - Dividend Comparison

TCLB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.26%, more than ZFL.TO's 2.84% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
TCLB.TO TD Canadian Long Term Federal Bond ETF	3.26%	3.25%	2.94%	2.33%	1.48%	0.16%	0.20%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ZFL.TO BMO Long Federal Bond	2.84%	3.13%	3.20%	3.49%	3.77%	2.85%	2.57%	2.95%	3.00%	2.99%	3.05%	3.10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TCLB.TO and ZFL.TO in my portfolio?

TCLB.TO and ZFL.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.

Which ETF is better, TCLB.TO or ZFL.TO?

On fees, ZFL.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, TCLB.TO or ZFL.TO?

ZFL.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.23% for TCLB.TO.

What is the main difference between TCLB.TO and ZFL.TO?

TCLB.TO tracks FTSE Canada Long Term Federal Bond Index, while ZFL.TO tracks FTSE TMX Canada Long Term Federal Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: TD and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.23% for TCLB.TO and 0.22% for ZFL.TO.