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VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VBAL.TO (Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio) and GBAL.TO (iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VBAL.TO returned 7.87%/yr vs 9.01%/yr for GBAL.TO. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VBAL.TO charges 0.24%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for GBAL.TO.

Performance

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) and iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VBAL.TO achieves a 8.13% return, which is significantly lower than GBAL.TO's 9.21% return.

VBAL.TO

1D
-0.30%
1M
4.26%
YTD
8.13%
6M
6.49%
1Y
18.31%
3Y*
13.79%
5Y*
7.87%
10Y*
—

GBAL.TO

1D
-0.24%
1M
5.86%
YTD
9.21%
6M
7.46%
1Y
17.91%
3Y*
15.59%
5Y*
9.01%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		8.13%11.88%14.56%12.43%-11.44%10.16%6.68%
GBAL.TO
iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio		9.21%11.77%17.38%14.48%-11.94%11.32%6.10%

Correlation

The correlation between VBAL.TO and GBAL.TO is 0.87, 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

0.87

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.76

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.67

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 14, 2020

0.67

Over the past year, VBAL.TO and GBAL.TO have become more correlated (0.87) than their long-term average of 0.67, meaning their price movements have been converging.

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VBAL.TO
GBAL.TO

Financial Services

20.6%
18.1%

Technology

20.4%
22.2%

Industrials

11.6%
5.4%

Energy

8.6%
0.0%

Basic Materials

8.5%
4.5%

Consumer Cyclical

7.9%
3.1%

Healthcare

6.7%
2.9%

Communication Services

6.1%
1.8%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
1.7%

Utilities

2.8%
0.6%

Real Estate

2.3%
1.9%

Financial Services

VBAL.TO
20.6%
GBAL.TO
18.1%

Technology

VBAL.TO
20.4%
GBAL.TO
22.2%

Industrials

VBAL.TO
11.6%
GBAL.TO
5.4%

Energy

VBAL.TO
8.6%
GBAL.TO
0.0%

Basic Materials

VBAL.TO
8.5%
GBAL.TO
4.5%

Consumer Cyclical

VBAL.TO
7.9%
GBAL.TO
3.1%

Healthcare

VBAL.TO
6.7%
GBAL.TO
2.9%

Communication Services

VBAL.TO
6.1%
GBAL.TO
1.8%

Consumer Defensive

VBAL.TO
4.6%
GBAL.TO
1.7%

Utilities

VBAL.TO
2.8%
GBAL.TO
0.6%

Real Estate

VBAL.TO
2.3%
GBAL.TO
1.9%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio

iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio

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Often compared with GBAL.TO:
GBAL.TO vs. XBAL.TOGBAL.TO vs. EAORGBAL.TO vs. GEQT.TOGBAL.TO vs. XIN.TOGBAL.TO vs. GGRO.TOGBAL.TO vs. VFV.TOGBAL.TO vs. XDIV.TO

Return for Risk

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VBAL.TO
VBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7171
Omega Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6161
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6969
Martin Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO
GBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5858
Overall Rank
GBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5656
Sharpe Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5858
Sortino Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 5959
Omega Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5757
Calmar Ratio Rank
GBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6262
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) and iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.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.

VBAL.TOGBAL.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.30
1.91

+0.39

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.30
2.78

+0.52

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.44

1.36

+0.07

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.10

2.81

+0.29

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

13.17

11.18

+1.99

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.30, which is comparable to the GBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.91. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VBAL.TO and GBAL.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.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VBAL.TOGBAL.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.30

1.91

+0.39

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.92

0.93

-0.02

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.78

1.03

-0.25

Drawdowns

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VBAL.TO drawdown since its inception was -21.19%, which is greater than GBAL.TO's maximum drawdown of -18.92%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBAL.TO and GBAL.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VBAL.TOGBAL.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-21.19%

-18.92%

-2.27%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-5.93%

-6.40%

+0.47%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-9.68%

-10.24%

+0.56%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-16.45%

-18.92%

+2.47%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.30%

-0.24%

-0.06%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.17%

-4.30%

+1.13%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.39%

1.61%

-0.22%

Volatility

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) is 2.73%, while iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio (GBAL.TO) has a volatility of 3.20%. This indicates that VBAL.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GBAL.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VBAL.TOGBAL.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.73%

3.20%

-0.47%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

6.59%

7.87%

-1.28%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

7.99%

9.42%

-1.43%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.63%

9.70%

-1.07%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

10.09%

9.54%

+0.55%

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

VBAL.TO has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is lower than GBAL.TO's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO - Dividend Comparison

VBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.05%, more than GBAL.TO's 1.71% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018
GBAL.TO
iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio		1.71%1.83%1.84%2.40%1.87%1.43%0.96%0.00%0.00%
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.05%2.21%2.26%2.32%2.16%1.91%1.79%2.20%1.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

VBAL.TO and GBAL.TO have a correlation of 0.87, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, VBAL.TO is cheaper at 0.24% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VBAL.TO is cheaper with a 0.24% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for GBAL.TO.

They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.24% for VBAL.TO and 0.25% for GBAL.TO.

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