VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

VAB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) and DRCU.TO (Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VAB.TO is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index, while DRCU.TO is a Sustainable fund actively managed by Desjardins. VAB.TO is passively managed, while DRCU.TO is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VAB.TO returned 0.31%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for DRCU.TO. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) and Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF (DRCU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VAB.TO achieves a 1.23% return, which is significantly higher than DRCU.TO's 0.39% return.

VAB.TO

• 1D: 0.26%
• 1M: -0.49%
• 6M: 0.66%
• YTD: 1.23%
• 1Y: 4.33%
• 3Y*: 4.15%
• 5Y*: 0.31%
• 10Y*: 1.43%

DRCU.TO

• 1D: -0.32%
• 1M: -0.75%
• 6M: 0.76%
• YTD: 0.39%
• 1Y: 4.30%
• 3Y*: 4.55%
• 5Y*: 0.58%
• 10Y*: —

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

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	1.23%	2.28%	3.98%	6.90%	-11.86%	-2.88%	8.27%	6.78%	1.87%
DRCU.TO Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF	0.39%	3.11%	5.29%	6.29%	-11.24%	-3.01%	7.92%	8.54%	0.21%

Correlation

The correlation between VAB.TO and DRCU.TO is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.45
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.41
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.34
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2018	0.27

The correlation between VAB.TO and DRCU.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.27 (all time) to 0.45 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

VAB.TO

VAB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 33
VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
VAB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
VAB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 32
VAB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 37
VAB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 32

DRCU.TO

DRCU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 28
DRCU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 27
DRCU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 25
DRCU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 26
DRCU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 32
DRCU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 30

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.

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) and Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF (DRCU.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.

	VAB.TO	DRCU.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.01	0.84	+0.17
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.38	1.19	+0.19
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.16	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.53	1.38	+0.16
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.85	3.52	+0.33

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.01, which is comparable to the DRCU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 0.84. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VAB.TO and DRCU.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

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VAB.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.39%, roughly equal to the maximum DRCU.TO drawdown of -18.29%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VAB.TO and DRCU.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VAB.TO	DRCU.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.39%	-18.29%	-0.10%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.83%	-2.61%	-0.22%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-4.84%	-4.71%	-0.13%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.82%	-16.14%	+0.32%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-18.39%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.29%	-1.22%	-1.07%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.06%	-5.78%	+1.72%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.13%	1.02%	+0.11%

Volatility

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) has a higher volatility of 1.24% compared to Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF (DRCU.TO) at 1.03%. This indicates that VAB.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DRCU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VAB.TO	DRCU.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.24%	1.03%	+0.21%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.42%	3.19%	+0.23%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.37%	4.33%	+0.04%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.58%	7.51%	-0.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.46%	7.72%	-1.26%

Dividends

VAB.TO vs. DRCU.TO - Dividend Comparison

VAB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.35%, less than DRCU.TO's 3.43% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DRCU.TO Desjardins RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF	3.43%	3.43%	3.27%	2.62%	3.34%	2.87%	2.69%	2.67%	0.71%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	3.35%	3.33%	3.19%	2.95%	2.87%	2.48%	2.51%	2.65%	2.80%	2.99%	2.75%	2.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VAB.TO and DRCU.TO in my portfolio?

VAB.TO and DRCU.TO have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

What is the main difference between VAB.TO and DRCU.TO?

VAB.TO is categorized as Total Bond Market, while DRCU.TO is Sustainable. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and Desjardins.