VA.TO vs. DFEU.L

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

VA.TO (Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF) and DFEU.L (iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF EUR Accumulating) are both exchange-traded funds - VA.TO is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index, while DFEU.L is a Aerospace & Defense fund tracking the STOXX Europe Targeted Defence Index. Both are passively managed. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VA.TO charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for DFEU.L.

Performance

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) and iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF EUR Accumulating (DFEU.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VA.TO is traded in CAD, while DFEU.L is traded in GBP. To make them comparable, the DFEU.L values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VA.TO achieves a 29.12% return, which is significantly higher than DFEU.L's 5.17% return.

VA.TO

• 1D: 0.34%
• 1M: 2.30%
• YTD: 29.12%
• 6M: 29.94%
• 1Y: 52.99%
• 3Y*: 22.49%
• 5Y*: 12.79%
• 10Y*: 11.51%

DFEU.L

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 9.60%
• YTD: 5.17%
• 6M: 6.21%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	29.12%	14.70%
DFEU.L iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF EUR Accumulating	5.17%	-14.72%

Correlation

The correlation between VA.TO and DFEU.L is 0.26, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 7, 2025	0.26

Return for Risk

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

VA.TO

VA.TO Risk / Return Rank: 86
VA.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
VA.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
VA.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 87
VA.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
VA.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 87

DFEU.L

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) and iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF EUR Accumulating (DFEU.L). 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.

	VA.TO	DFEU.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.48	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.18	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.46	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.26	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	16.07	—	—

Drawdowns

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VA.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.81%, which is greater than DFEU.L's maximum drawdown of -24.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VA.TO and DFEU.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VA.TO	DFEU.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-25.81%	-24.43%	-1.38%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.09%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-13.99%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.73%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.81%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.21%	-14.28%	+12.07%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.53%	-11.80%	+6.27%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.20%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	VA.TO	DFEU.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.68%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.49%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.76%	40.00%	-19.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.24%	40.00%	-24.76%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.36%	40.00%	-24.64%

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

VA.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is lower than DFEU.L's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

VA.TO vs. DFEU.L - Dividend Comparison

VA.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.68%, while DFEU.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DFEU.L iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF EUR Accumulating	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	1.68%	2.17%	2.31%	2.57%	3.10%	2.35%	2.14%	2.55%	2.89%	1.71%	1.63%	1.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VA.TO and DFEU.L in my portfolio?

VA.TO and DFEU.L have a correlation of 0.26, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VA.TO or DFEU.L?

On fees, VA.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, VA.TO or DFEU.L?

VA.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for DFEU.L.

What is the main difference between VA.TO and DFEU.L?

VA.TO is categorized as Asia Pacific Equities, while DFEU.L is Aerospace & Defense. VA.TO tracks FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index, while DFEU.L tracks STOXX Europe Targeted Defence Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for VA.TO and 0.35% for DFEU.L.