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VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VFV.TO (Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF) and XEI.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VFV.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while XEI.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VFV.TO returned 16.04%/yr vs 12.32%/yr for XEI.TO. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. VFV.TO charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for XEI.TO.

Performance

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI.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, VFV.TO achieves a 12.30% return, which is significantly lower than XEI.TO's 22.21% return. Over the past 10 years, VFV.TO has outperformed XEI.TO with an annualized return of 16.04%, while XEI.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 12.32% annualized return.

VFV.TO

1D
-0.18%
1M
7.30%
YTD
12.30%
6M
10.47%
1Y
29.48%
3Y*
23.57%
5Y*
16.84%
10Y*
16.04%

XEI.TO

1D
0.00%
1M
3.33%
YTD
22.21%
6M
23.56%
1Y
43.59%
3Y*
22.26%
5Y*
15.55%
10Y*
12.32%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VFV.TO
Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF		12.30%12.18%35.23%23.23%-12.58%27.51%15.62%25.14%2.94%13.67%
XEI.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF		22.21%25.96%15.42%6.69%0.41%35.88%-7.53%25.44%-10.85%7.24%

Correlation

The correlation between VFV.TO and XEI.TO is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.19

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

0.34

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

0.42

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.47

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2012

0.46

Over the past year, the correlation between VFV.TO and XEI.TO has dropped to 0.19 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VFV.TO
XEI.TO

Technology

35.7%
0.7%

Financial Services

11.6%
31.4%

Communication Services

11.3%
7.6%

Consumer Cyclical

10.2%
6.2%

Healthcare

8.5%
0.2%

Industrials

8.3%
0.7%

Consumer Defensive

4.9%
0.5%

Energy

3.5%
32.1%

Utilities

2.4%
11.2%

Real Estate

1.9%
4.8%

Basic Materials

1.8%
4.6%

Technology

VFV.TO
35.7%
XEI.TO
0.7%

Financial Services

VFV.TO
11.6%
XEI.TO
31.4%

Communication Services

VFV.TO
11.3%
XEI.TO
7.6%

Consumer Cyclical

VFV.TO
10.2%
XEI.TO
6.2%

Healthcare

VFV.TO
8.5%
XEI.TO
0.2%

Industrials

VFV.TO
8.3%
XEI.TO
0.7%

Consumer Defensive

VFV.TO
4.9%
XEI.TO
0.5%

Energy

VFV.TO
3.5%
XEI.TO
32.1%

Utilities

VFV.TO
2.4%
XEI.TO
11.2%

Real Estate

VFV.TO
1.9%
XEI.TO
4.8%

Basic Materials

VFV.TO
1.8%
XEI.TO
4.6%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF

iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF

Often compared with VFV.TO:
VFV.TO vs. XEQT.TOVFV.TO vs. VEQT.TOVFV.TO vs. VOOVFV.TO vs. QQC.TOVFV.TO vs. VSP.TOVFV.TO vs. VCN.TOVFV.TO vs. XQQ.TO
Often compared with XEI.TO:
XEI.TO vs. VDY.TOXEI.TO vs. XDIV.TOXEI.TO vs. XEQT.TOXEI.TO vs. ZDV.TOXEI.TO vs. CDZ.TOXEI.TO vs. XDV.TOXEI.TO vs. ZWC.TO

Return for Risk

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VFV.TO
VFV.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7474
Overall Rank
VFV.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7878
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VFV.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7777
Sortino Ratio Rank
VFV.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7878
Omega Ratio Rank
VFV.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6868
Calmar Ratio Rank
VFV.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6969
Martin Ratio Rank
XEI.TO
XEI.TO Risk / Return Rank: 9898
Overall Rank
XEI.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9898
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEI.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 9898
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEI.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 9898
Omega Ratio Rank
XEI.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 9898
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEI.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 9898
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.

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI.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.

VFV.TOXEI.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.59
6.08

-3.49

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.53
9.07

-5.53

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.48

2.27

-0.79

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.44

19.53

-16.09

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

13.10

66.28

-53.19

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

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFV.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.59, which is lower than the XEI.TO Sharpe Ratio of 6.08. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFV.TO and XEI.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

VFV.TOXEI.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.59

6.08

-3.49

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.14

1.39

-0.26

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.97

0.77

+0.20

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

1.14

0.67

+0.48

Drawdowns

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFV.TO drawdown since its inception was -27.43%, smaller than the maximum XEI.TO drawdown of -45.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFV.TO and XEI.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VFV.TOXEI.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-27.43%

-45.51%

+18.08%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.62%

-2.24%

-6.38%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.05%

-9.92%

-9.13%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-22.19%

-17.32%

-4.87%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-27.43%

-45.51%

+18.08%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.18%

-0.76%

+0.58%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.35%

-5.05%

+1.70%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.26%

0.66%

+1.60%

Volatility

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO) has a higher volatility of 3.05% compared to iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI.TO) at 2.87%. This indicates that VFV.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XEI.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VFV.TOXEI.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.05%

2.87%

+0.18%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

8.55%

6.01%

+2.54%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

11.46%

7.21%

+4.25%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

14.91%

11.24%

+3.67%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

16.57%

16.01%

+0.56%

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFV.TO has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than XEI.TO's 0.22% 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%.

Dividends

VFV.TO vs. XEI.TO - Dividend Comparison

VFV.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, less than XEI.TO's 3.56% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VFV.TO
Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF		0.83%0.92%0.99%1.20%1.31%1.06%1.33%1.55%1.68%1.50%1.66%1.63%
XEI.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF		3.56%4.39%5.56%5.08%4.78%3.65%5.13%4.71%5.53%4.37%4.51%5.75%

Frequently Asked Questions

VFV.TO and XEI.TO have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, VFV.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VFV.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for XEI.TO.

VFV.TO is categorized as S&P 500, while XEI.TO is Canada Equities. VFV.TO tracks S&P 500 Index, while XEI.TO tracks S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VFV.TO and 0.22% for XEI.TO.

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