VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VDU.TO (Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF) and VDY.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VDU.TO is a Global Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, while VDY.TO is a Dividend fund tracking the FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VDU.TO returned 10.28%/yr vs 14.02%/yr for VDY.TO. A 0.56 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.22% expense ratio.

Performance

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF (VDU.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VDU.TO achieves a 16.22% return, which is significantly lower than VDY.TO's 20.59% return. Over the past 10 years, VDU.TO has underperformed VDY.TO with an annualized return of 10.28%, while VDY.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.02% annualized return.

VDU.TO

• 1D: -0.45%
• 1M: 7.62%
• YTD: 16.22%
• 6M: 17.26%
• 1Y: 33.30%
• 3Y*: 20.33%
• 5Y*: 11.99%
• 10Y*: 10.28%

VDY.TO

• 1D: -0.07%
• 1M: 4.52%
• YTD: 20.59%
• 6M: 22.32%
• 1Y: 46.18%
• 3Y*: 26.00%
• 5Y*: 17.21%
• 10Y*: 14.02%

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

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VDU.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF	16.22%	27.97%	11.37%	14.56%	-9.89%	10.23%	7.06%	15.90%	-8.11%	17.64%
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	20.59%	29.20%	20.71%	8.40%	-0.23%	36.78%	-1.37%	21.43%	-10.09%	8.75%

Correlation

The correlation between VDU.TO and VDY.TO is 0.48, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.48
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.58
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.62
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 13, 2013	0.56

The correlation between VDU.TO and VDY.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.48 (1 year) to 0.62 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VDU.TO	VDY.TO
Financial Services	23.3%	56.0%
Industrials	19.2%	0.2%
Technology	13.8%	0.4%
Healthcare	8.2%	0.1%
Basic Materials	7.5%	2.2%
Consumer Cyclical	7.5%	3.0%
Consumer Defensive	5.6%	0.4%
Energy	5.4%	30.8%
Communication Services	3.4%	2.8%
Utilities	3.3%	4.1%
Real Estate	2.7%	-

Return for Risk

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

VDU.TO

VDU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 65
VDU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
VDU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 67
VDU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 68
VDU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 58
VDU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 65

VDY.TO

VDY.TO Risk / Return Rank: 98
VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 98

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.

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF (VDU.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.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.

	VDU.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.28	5.65	-3.37
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.13	8.14	-5.01
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	2.14	-0.72
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.92	14.88	-11.96
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.06	60.75	-48.69
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VDU.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.28, which is lower than the VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio of 5.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VDU.TO and VDY.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VDU.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.28	5.65	-3.37
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.89	1.50	-0.60
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.70	0.88	-0.18
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.70	0.84	-0.15

Drawdowns

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VDU.TO drawdown since its inception was -29.19%, smaller than the maximum VDY.TO drawdown of -39.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VDU.TO and VDY.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VDU.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-29.19%	-39.21%	+10.02%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.47%	-3.12%	-8.35%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.02%	-10.87%	-3.15%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.10%	-16.18%	-7.92%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.19%	-39.21%	+10.02%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.45%	-0.77%	+0.32%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.66%	-4.61%	-0.05%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.77%	0.76%	+2.01%

Volatility

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF (VDU.TO) has a higher volatility of 5.23% compared to Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) at 3.31%. This indicates that VDU.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VDY.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VDU.TO	VDY.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.23%	3.31%	+1.92%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.47%	6.87%	+5.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.68%	8.21%	+6.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.50%	11.56%	+1.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.75%	15.96%	-1.21%

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VDU.TO and VDY.TO have an expense ratio of 0.22%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VDU.TO vs. VDY.TO - Dividend Comparison

VDU.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.09%, less than VDY.TO's 2.90% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VDU.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF	2.09%	2.61%	2.55%	2.54%	2.14%	2.67%	1.64%	2.48%	2.61%	2.26%	2.41%	2.25%
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	2.90%	3.59%	4.40%	4.64%	4.42%	3.58%	4.59%	4.25%	4.43%	3.82%	3.25%	4.11%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VDU.TO and VDY.TO in my portfolio?

VDU.TO and VDY.TO have a correlation of 0.48, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VDU.TO or VDY.TO?

Both ETFs have the same 0.22% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VDU.TO or VDY.TO?

VDU.TO and VDY.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.22% per year.

What is the main difference between VDU.TO and VDY.TO?

VDU.TO is categorized as Global Equities, while VDY.TO is Dividend. VDU.TO tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, while VDY.TO tracks FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index.