VFV.TO vs. ZCN.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VFV.TO (Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF) and ZCN.TO (BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VFV.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while ZCN.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VFV.TO returned 16.04%/yr vs 12.62%/yr for ZCN.TO. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VFV.TO charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for ZCN.TO.

Performance

VFV.TO vs. ZCN.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 BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VFV.TO achieves a 12.30% return, which is significantly higher than ZCN.TO's 10.70% return. Over the past 10 years, VFV.TO has outperformed ZCN.TO with an annualized return of 16.04%, while ZCN.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 12.62% 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%

ZCN.TO

• 1D: -1.14%
• 1M: 3.62%
• YTD: 10.70%
• 6M: 12.95%
• 1Y: 34.77%
• 3Y*: 23.62%
• 5Y*: 14.90%
• 10Y*: 12.62%

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

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
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%
ZCN.TO BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF	10.70%	31.51%	21.64%	11.63%	-5.84%	25.05%	5.69%	22.85%	-8.84%	8.94%

Correlation

The correlation between VFV.TO and ZCN.TO is 0.59, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.59
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.59
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.62
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2012	0.59

The correlation between VFV.TO and ZCN.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.59 to 0.62 - a consistent structural relationship.

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

Sectors	VFV.TO	ZCN.TO
Technology	35.7%	7.6%
Financial Services	11.6%	32.8%
Communication Services	11.3%	1.8%
Consumer Cyclical	10.2%	3.8%
Healthcare	8.5%	0.1%
Industrials	8.3%	10.3%
Consumer Defensive	4.9%	2.9%
Energy	3.5%	17.5%
Utilities	2.4%	3.2%
Real Estate	1.9%	1.6%
Basic Materials	1.8%	18.4%

Return for Risk

VFV.TO vs. ZCN.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: 74
VFV.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
VFV.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 77
VFV.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 78
VFV.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 68
VFV.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 69

ZCN.TO

ZCN.TO Risk / Return Rank: 80
ZCN.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
ZCN.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
ZCN.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 81
ZCN.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
ZCN.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 84

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. ZCN.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 BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN.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.TO	ZCN.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.59	2.76	-0.17
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.53	3.56	-0.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.48	1.50	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.44	3.75	-0.32
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.10	17.48	-4.39
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. ZCN.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFV.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.59, which is comparable to the ZCN.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.76. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFV.TO and ZCN.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

	VFV.TO	ZCN.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.59	2.76	-0.17
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.14	1.15	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.97	0.85	+0.13
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.14	0.68	+0.46

Drawdowns

VFV.TO vs. ZCN.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFV.TO drawdown since its inception was -27.43%, smaller than the maximum ZCN.TO drawdown of -37.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFV.TO and ZCN.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFV.TO	ZCN.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.43%	-37.18%	+9.75%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.62%	-9.30%	+0.68%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.05%	-12.25%	-6.80%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-22.19%	-16.25%	-5.94%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-27.43%	-37.18%	+9.75%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.18%	-1.14%	+0.96%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.35%	-4.76%	+1.41%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.26%	1.99%	+0.27%

Volatility

VFV.TO vs. ZCN.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO) is 3.05%, while BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN.TO) has a volatility of 3.49%. This indicates that VFV.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ZCN.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFV.TO	ZCN.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.05%	3.49%	-0.44%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.55%	10.31%	-1.76%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.46%	12.66%	-1.20%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.91%	13.09%	+1.82%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.57%	14.99%	+1.58%

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

VFV.TO has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than ZCN.TO's 0.06% 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

VFV.TO vs. ZCN.TO - Dividend Comparison

VFV.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, less than ZCN.TO's 2.03% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
ZCN.TO BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF	2.03%	2.22%	2.78%	3.29%	3.27%	2.74%	3.24%	3.13%	3.16%	2.71%	2.84%	3.33%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VFV.TO and ZCN.TO in my portfolio?

VFV.TO and ZCN.TO have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VFV.TO or ZCN.TO?

On fees, ZCN.TO is cheaper at 0.06% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VFV.TO or ZCN.TO?

ZCN.TO is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for VFV.TO.

What is the main difference between VFV.TO and ZCN.TO?

VFV.TO is categorized as S&P 500, while ZCN.TO is Canada Equities. VFV.TO tracks S&P 500 Index, while ZCN.TO tracks S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VFV.TO and 0.06% for ZCN.TO.