VDY.TO vs. ZCB.TO

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

VDY.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF) and ZCB.TO (BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VDY.TO is a Dividend fund tracking the FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index, while ZCB.TO is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VDY.TO returned 17.91%/yr vs 2.14%/yr for ZCB.TO. At a 0.01 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VDY.TO charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.17%/yr for ZCB.TO.

Performance

VDY.TO vs. ZCB.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) and BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VDY.TO achieves a 23.81% return, which is significantly higher than ZCB.TO's 1.97% return.

VDY.TO

• 1D: 0.65%
• 1M: 5.11%
• YTD: 23.81%
• 6M: 23.43%
• 1Y: 49.57%
• 3Y*: 27.42%
• 5Y*: 17.91%
• 10Y*: 14.58%

ZCB.TO

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 1.84%
• YTD: 1.97%
• 6M: 2.40%
• 1Y: 4.84%
• 3Y*: 6.28%
• 5Y*: 2.14%
• 10Y*: —

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

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	23.81%	29.21%	21.44%	8.41%	-0.23%	36.60%	-1.37%	21.42%	-7.27%
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	1.97%	3.81%	6.60%	8.73%	-10.20%	-2.22%	8.33%	8.03%	0.90%

Correlation

The correlation between VDY.TO and ZCB.TO is 0.15, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.15
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.19
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.08
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 16, 2018	0.01

The correlation between VDY.TO and ZCB.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.01 (all time) to 0.19 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

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

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

VDY.TO

VDY.TO Risk / Return Rank: 98
VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
VDY.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
VDY.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 98

ZCB.TO

ZCB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 40
ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 39
ZCB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
ZCB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 41
ZCB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
ZCB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 39

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.

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

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) and BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	VDY.TO	ZCB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	5.98	1.25	+4.74
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	8.59	1.75	+6.84
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.21	1.24	+0.97
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	15.94	1.83	+14.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	64.95	5.41	+59.53

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

The current VDY.TO Sharpe Ratio is 5.98, which is higher than the ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.25. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VDY.TO and ZCB.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.

Drawdowns

VDY.TO vs. ZCB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VDY.TO drawdown since its inception was -39.21%, which is greater than ZCB.TO's maximum drawdown of -15.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VDY.TO and ZCB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VDY.TO	ZCB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-39.21%	-15.70%	-23.51%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.12%	-2.55%	-0.57%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.38%	-3.27%	-7.11%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.17%	-14.20%	-1.97%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-39.21%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-0.08%	+0.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.47%	-3.69%	-0.78%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.76%	0.86%	-0.10%

Volatility

VDY.TO vs. ZCB.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VDY.TO) has a higher volatility of 3.27% compared to BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) at 1.28%. This indicates that VDY.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZCB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VDY.TO	ZCB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.27%	1.28%	+1.99%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.96%	2.91%	+4.05%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.32%	3.73%	+4.59%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.58%	5.20%	+6.38%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.95%	5.42%	+10.53%

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

VDY.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is higher than ZCB.TO's 0.17% 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%.

Dividends

VDY.TO vs. ZCB.TO - Dividend Comparison

VDY.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.83%, less than ZCB.TO's 4.03% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VDY.TO Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index ETF	2.83%	3.59%	4.37%	4.64%	4.42%	3.46%	4.59%	4.25%	4.44%	3.42%	3.25%	4.11%
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	4.03%	4.00%	3.84%	3.89%	3.62%	3.13%	2.97%	3.12%	3.27%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

VDY.TO and ZCB.TO have a correlation of 0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

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

On fees, ZCB.TO is cheaper at 0.17% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

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

ZCB.TO is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for VDY.TO.

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

VDY.TO is categorized as Dividend, while ZCB.TO is Corporate Bonds. VDY.TO tracks FTSE Canada High Dividend Yield Index, while ZCB.TO tracks FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for VDY.TO and 0.17% for ZCB.TO.