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

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VCNS.TO (Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio) and GGRO.TO (iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VCNS.TO returned 4.95%/yr vs 11.21%/yr for GGRO.TO. A 0.73 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.25% expense ratio.

Performance

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) and iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio (GGRO.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, VCNS.TO achieves a 5.71% return, which is significantly lower than GGRO.TO's 11.53% return.

VCNS.TO

1D
-0.26%
1M
3.27%
YTD
5.71%
6M
3.72%
1Y
12.22%
3Y*
9.78%
5Y*
4.95%
10Y*
—

GGRO.TO

1D
-0.62%
1M
6.36%
YTD
11.53%
6M
9.38%
1Y
22.46%
3Y*
19.13%
5Y*
11.21%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

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

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		5.71%8.13%9.74%10.32%-11.72%5.79%4.03%
GGRO.TO
iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio		11.53%14.24%20.48%19.18%-14.11%15.52%7.20%

Correlation

The correlation between VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO is 0.84, 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

0.84

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

0.77

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

0.73

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2020

0.73

The correlation between VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.73 (all time) to 0.84 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VCNS.TO
GGRO.TO

Financial Services

20.6%
23.1%

Technology

20.4%
27.5%

Industrials

11.6%
7.0%

Energy

8.6%
0.0%

Basic Materials

8.6%
5.7%

Consumer Cyclical

7.9%
3.8%

Healthcare

6.7%
3.7%

Communication Services

6.0%
2.3%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
2.2%

Utilities

2.8%
0.8%

Real Estate

2.3%
2.3%

Financial Services

VCNS.TO
20.6%
GGRO.TO
23.1%

Technology

VCNS.TO
20.4%
GGRO.TO
27.5%

Industrials

VCNS.TO
11.6%
GGRO.TO
7.0%

Energy

VCNS.TO
8.6%
GGRO.TO
0.0%

Basic Materials

VCNS.TO
8.6%
GGRO.TO
5.7%

Consumer Cyclical

VCNS.TO
7.9%
GGRO.TO
3.8%

Healthcare

VCNS.TO
6.7%
GGRO.TO
3.7%

Communication Services

VCNS.TO
6.0%
GGRO.TO
2.3%

Consumer Defensive

VCNS.TO
4.6%
GGRO.TO
2.2%

Utilities

VCNS.TO
2.8%
GGRO.TO
0.8%

Real Estate

VCNS.TO
2.3%
GGRO.TO
2.3%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio

iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio

Often compared with VCNS.TO:
VCNS.TO vs. VBAL.TOVCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TOVCNS.TO vs. XIC.TOVCNS.TO vs. VOOVCNS.TO vs. VGRO.TOVCNS.TO vs. VEQT.TOVCNS.TO vs. VCIP.TO
Often compared with GGRO.TO:
GGRO.TO vs. VGRO.TOGGRO.TO vs. VFV.TOGGRO.TO vs. XEQT.TOGGRO.TO vs. GEQT.TOGGRO.TO vs. ESGGGGRO.TO vs. GBAL.TOGGRO.TO vs. ESG

Return for Risk

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VCNS.TO
VCNS.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5656
Overall Rank
VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5757
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5757
Sortino Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5050
Calmar Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 5757
Martin Ratio Rank
GGRO.TO
GGRO.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5858
Overall Rank
GGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5656
Sharpe Ratio Rank
GGRO.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5454
Sortino Ratio Rank
GGRO.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 5757
Omega Ratio Rank
GGRO.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5858
Calmar Ratio Rank
GGRO.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6464
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.

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) and iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio (GGRO.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.

VCNS.TOGGRO.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.97
1.89

+0.08

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.78
2.63

+0.15

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.38

1.35

+0.02

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.53

2.91

-0.39

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

10.00

11.75

-1.75

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

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.97, which is comparable to the GGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VCNS.TO and GGRO.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

VCNS.TOGGRO.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.97

1.89

+0.08

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.73

0.96

-0.23

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.25

1.07

-0.82

Drawdowns

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VCNS.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.04%, smaller than the maximum GGRO.TO drawdown of -22.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VCNS.TOGGRO.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-18.04%

-22.13%

+4.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-4.86%

-7.74%

+2.88%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-7.44%

-13.78%

+6.34%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-15.73%

-22.13%

+6.40%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.26%

-0.62%

+0.36%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.04%

-4.97%

+1.93%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.22%

1.92%

-0.70%

Volatility

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) is 2.44%, while iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio (GGRO.TO) has a volatility of 3.84%. This indicates that VCNS.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GGRO.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VCNS.TOGGRO.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.44%

3.84%

-1.40%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

5.31%

9.82%

-4.51%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

6.22%

11.91%

-5.69%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

6.82%

11.76%

-4.94%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

91.48%

11.57%

+79.91%

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

Both VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO have an expense ratio of 0.25%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VCNS.TO vs. GGRO.TO - Dividend Comparison

VCNS.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.43%, more than GGRO.TO's 1.38% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018
GGRO.TO
iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio		1.38%1.51%1.62%1.89%1.69%1.43%0.83%0.00%0.00%
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		2.43%2.54%2.58%2.57%2.28%2.09%1.88%2.28%75.90%

Frequently Asked Questions

VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO have a correlation of 0.84, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Both ETFs have the same 0.25% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VCNS.TO and GGRO.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.25% per year.

They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares.

Portfolio Optimizer

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