VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XSEM.TO).

VA.TO and XSEM.TO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VA.TO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index. It was launched on Jun 30, 2014. XSEM.TO is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Morningstar EM GR CAD. It was launched on Mar 18, 2019. Both VA.TO and XSEM.TO are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - 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 ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XSEM.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	11.84%	25.82%	10.30%	12.15%	-9.26%	0.89%	13.71%	5.13%
XSEM.TO iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF	4.51%	30.16%	14.82%	7.04%	-17.24%	-3.58%	15.66%	5.23%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VA.TO achieves a 11.84% return, which is significantly higher than XSEM.TO's 4.51% return.

VA.TO

• 1D: 2.00%
• 1M: -4.84%
• YTD: 11.84%
• 6M: 15.48%
• 1Y: 38.10%
• 3Y*: 18.44%
• 5Y*: 9.26%
• 10Y*: 9.86%

XSEM.TO

• 1D: 0.65%
• 1M: -5.08%
• YTD: 4.51%
• 6M: 6.39%
• 1Y: 30.44%
• 3Y*: 17.01%
• 5Y*: 5.37%
• 10Y*: —

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

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

VA.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is lower than XSEM.TO's 0.32% expense ratio.

XSEM.TO

iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF

VA.TO

Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF

Return for Risk

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO — 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: 88
VA.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
VA.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
VA.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 88
VA.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 89
VA.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 88

XSEM.TO

XSEM.TO Risk / Return Rank: 77
XSEM.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
XSEM.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 77
XSEM.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 74
XSEM.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
XSEM.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 74

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. XSEM.TO - 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 ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XSEM.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.

	VA.TO	XSEM.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.91	1.51	+0.40
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.48	2.05	+0.43
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.29	+0.08
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.09	2.42	+0.67
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	11.56	8.23	+3.33
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VA.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.91, which is comparable to the XSEM.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.51. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VA.TO and XSEM.TO, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VA.TO	XSEM.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.91	1.51	+0.40
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.65	0.32	+0.33
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.66	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.61	0.40	+0.21

Correlation

The correlation between VA.TO and XSEM.TO is 0.54, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Dividend Comparison

VA.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.94%, more than XSEM.TO's 1.72% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VA.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF	1.94%	2.17%	2.31%	2.57%	3.09%	2.35%	2.14%	2.53%	2.84%	1.71%	1.62%	1.88%
XSEM.TO iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF	1.72%	1.80%	2.12%	1.12%	2.29%	2.50%	1.16%	2.46%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VA.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.81%, smaller than the maximum XSEM.TO drawdown of -37.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VA.TO and XSEM.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VA.TO	XSEM.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-25.81%	-37.03%	+11.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.09%	-12.63%	+0.54%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.74%	-33.18%	+8.44%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.81%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.63%	-8.51%	+1.88%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.59%	-13.45%	+7.86%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.23%	3.72%	-0.49%

Volatility

VA.TO vs. XSEM.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific All Cap Index ETF (VA.TO) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XSEM.TO) have volatilities of 10.00% and 9.61%, 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

	VA.TO	XSEM.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.00%	9.61%	+0.39%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.87%	14.99%	-0.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.05%	20.23%	-0.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.27%	16.61%	-2.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.94%	18.01%	-3.07%