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

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TO

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) and Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO).

VBAL.TO and VCNS.TO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VBAL.TO is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Jan 25, 2018. VCNS.TO is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Jan 25, 2018.

Performance

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Performance Comparison

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

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

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021202020192018
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		0.43%13.28%14.60%12.46%-11.41%10.19%10.25%14.88%-2.84%
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		0.22%8.13%9.74%10.32%-11.72%5.79%9.46%12.04%257.13%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VBAL.TO achieves a 0.43% return, which is significantly higher than VCNS.TO's 0.22% return.

VBAL.TO

1D
1.84%
1M
-3.47%
YTD
0.43%
6M
2.10%
1Y
13.39%
3Y*
11.80%
5Y*
6.97%
10Y*
—

VCNS.TO

1D
1.35%
1M
-3.05%
YTD
0.22%
6M
-0.17%
1Y
7.67%
3Y*
7.95%
5Y*
4.15%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio

Often compared with VBAL.TO:
VBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TOVBAL.TO vs. XBAL.TOVBAL.TO vs. VEQT.TOVBAL.TO vs. XEQT.TOVBAL.TO vs. VTVBAL.TO vs. VOOVBAL.TO vs. ZMMK.TO
Often compared with VCNS.TO:
VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TOVCNS.TO vs. VOOVCNS.TO vs. XIC.TOVCNS.TO vs. VGRO.TOVCNS.TO vs. VEQT.TOVCNS.TO vs. VFV.TOVCNS.TO vs. VCIP.TO

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

VBAL.TO has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is lower than VCNS.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%.

VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio

Return for Risk

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.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: 7777
Overall Rank
VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7676
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7575
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 7878
Martin Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO
VCNS.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6060
Overall Rank
VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6161
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5757
Sortino Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6060
Omega Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 5858
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. VCNS.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) and Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.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.TOVCNS.TODifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.33

1.04

+0.29

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.85

1.42

+0.43

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.28

1.21

+0.07

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.86

1.50

+0.35

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

7.73

5.47

+2.26

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. VCNS.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.33, which is comparable to the VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.04. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VBAL.TO and VCNS.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.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VBAL.TOVCNS.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.33

1.04

+0.29

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.82

0.62

+0.20

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.71

0.25

+0.47

Correlation

The correlation between VBAL.TO and VCNS.TO is 0.92, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Dividend Comparison

VBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.20%, less than VCNS.TO's 2.54% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.20%2.21%2.29%2.34%2.19%1.93%1.81%2.23%2.01%
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		2.54%2.54%2.58%2.57%2.28%2.09%1.88%2.28%75.90%

Drawdowns

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VBAL.TO drawdown since its inception was -21.19%, which is greater than VCNS.TO's maximum drawdown of -18.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VBAL.TO and VCNS.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VBAL.TOVCNS.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-21.19%

-18.04%

-3.15%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.55%

-5.38%

-2.17%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-16.43%

-15.73%

-0.70%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.72%

-3.20%

-0.52%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.21%

-3.09%

-0.12%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.81%

1.48%

+0.33%

Volatility

VBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.17% compared to Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) at 3.29%. This indicates that VBAL.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCNS.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.TOVCNS.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.17%

3.29%

+0.88%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

6.26%

4.90%

+1.36%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

10.14%

7.42%

+2.72%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.54%

6.73%

+1.81%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

10.10%

92.46%

-82.36%