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

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TO

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

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

VCNS.TO and XCNS.TO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VCNS.TO is an actively managed fund by Vanguard. It was launched on Jan 25, 2018. XCNS.TO is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Aug 7, 2019.

Performance

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.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 Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio (XCNS.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		0.22%8.13%9.74%10.32%-11.72%5.79%9.46%3.05%
XCNS.TO
iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio		0.28%9.44%11.73%10.66%-11.25%5.93%10.28%3.45%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VCNS.TO achieves a 0.22% return, which is significantly lower than XCNS.TO's 0.28% return.

VCNS.TO

1D
1.35%
1M
-3.05%
YTD
0.22%
6M
-0.17%
1Y
7.67%
3Y*
7.95%
5Y*
4.15%
10Y*
—

XCNS.TO

1D
1.49%
1M
-2.82%
YTD
0.28%
6M
0.46%
1Y
8.57%
3Y*
9.16%
5Y*
4.95%
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 Conservative ETF Portfolio

iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio

Often compared with VCNS.TO:
VCNS.TO vs. VBAL.TOVCNS.TO vs. VOOVCNS.TO vs. XIC.TOVCNS.TO vs. VGRO.TOVCNS.TO vs. VEQT.TOVCNS.TO vs. VFV.TOVCNS.TO vs. VCIP.TO
Often compared with XCNS.TO:
XCNS.TO vs. XBAL.TOXCNS.TO vs. XINC.TOXCNS.TO vs. XEQT.TOXCNS.TO vs. GCNS.TOXCNS.TO vs. XGRO.TOXCNS.TO vs. BRK-BXCNS.TO vs. XTR.TO

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

VCNS.TO has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than XCNS.TO's 0.20% expense ratio. However, 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
XCNS.TO
iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio

Return for Risk

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.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: 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
XCNS.TO
XCNS.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6565
Overall Rank
XCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XCNS.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6464
Sortino Ratio Rank
XCNS.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6565
Omega Ratio Rank
XCNS.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6565
Calmar Ratio Rank
XCNS.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.

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

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

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.04

1.14

-0.10

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.42

1.56

-0.14

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.21

1.23

-0.02

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.50

1.58

-0.08

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

5.47

5.83

-0.36

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. XCNS.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.04, which is comparable to the XCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VCNS.TO and XCNS.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

VCNS.TOXCNS.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.04

1.14

-0.10

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.62

0.74

-0.12

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.25

0.78

-0.53

Correlation

The correlation between VCNS.TO and XCNS.TO is 0.83, 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

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TO - Dividend Comparison

VCNS.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.54%, less than XCNS.TO's 2.63% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		2.54%2.54%2.58%2.57%2.28%2.09%1.88%2.28%75.90%
XCNS.TO
iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.63%2.55%2.58%2.49%2.26%1.81%2.15%0.92%0.00%

Drawdowns

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VCNS.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.04%, which is greater than XCNS.TO's maximum drawdown of -16.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCNS.TO and XCNS.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VCNS.TOXCNS.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-18.04%

-16.96%

-1.08%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-5.38%

-5.60%

+0.22%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-15.73%

-16.09%

+0.36%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.20%

-3.00%

-0.20%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.09%

-3.56%

+0.47%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.48%

1.52%

-0.04%

Volatility

VCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) is 3.29%, while iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio (XCNS.TO) has a volatility of 3.47%. This indicates that VCNS.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XCNS.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.TOXCNS.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.29%

3.47%

-0.18%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

4.90%

5.06%

-0.16%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

7.42%

7.55%

-0.13%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

6.73%

6.72%

+0.01%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

92.46%

7.57%

+84.89%