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

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VFV.TO (Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF) and ZSP.TO (BMO S&P 500 Index ETF) are both S&P 500 funds tracking the S&P 500 Index, from Vanguard and BMO respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VFV.TO returned 16.04%/yr vs 15.98%/yr for ZSP.TO. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. Both charge a 0.09% expense ratio.

Performance

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.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 500 Index ETF (ZSP.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VFV.TO having a 12.30% return and ZSP.TO slightly lower at 12.15%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VFV.TO having a 16.04% annualized return and ZSP.TO not far behind at 15.98%.

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%

ZSP.TO

1D
-0.29%
1M
7.18%
YTD
12.15%
6M
10.04%
1Y
28.96%
3Y*
23.44%
5Y*
16.74%
10Y*
15.98%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.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%
ZSP.TO
BMO S&P 500 Index ETF		12.15%12.02%35.07%23.30%-12.68%27.53%15.61%24.69%3.24%13.54%

Correlation

The correlation between VFV.TO and ZSP.TO is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

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

0.99

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

0.99

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

0.99

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

0.99

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 27, 2012

0.98

The correlation between VFV.TO and ZSP.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.

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

Sectors
VFV.TO
ZSP.TO

Technology

35.7%
35.5%

Financial Services

11.6%
12.1%

Communication Services

11.3%
10.9%

Consumer Cyclical

10.2%
10.3%

Healthcare

8.5%
8.7%

Industrials

8.3%
8.4%

Consumer Defensive

4.9%
4.8%

Energy

3.5%
3.3%

Utilities

2.4%
2.3%

Real Estate

1.9%
2.0%

Basic Materials

1.8%
1.8%

Technology

VFV.TO
35.7%
ZSP.TO
35.5%

Financial Services

VFV.TO
11.6%
ZSP.TO
12.1%

Communication Services

VFV.TO
11.3%
ZSP.TO
10.9%

Consumer Cyclical

VFV.TO
10.2%
ZSP.TO
10.3%

Healthcare

VFV.TO
8.5%
ZSP.TO
8.7%

Industrials

VFV.TO
8.3%
ZSP.TO
8.4%

Consumer Defensive

VFV.TO
4.9%
ZSP.TO
4.8%

Energy

VFV.TO
3.5%
ZSP.TO
3.3%

Utilities

VFV.TO
2.4%
ZSP.TO
2.3%

Real Estate

VFV.TO
1.9%
ZSP.TO
2.0%

Basic Materials

VFV.TO
1.8%
ZSP.TO
1.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF

BMO S&P 500 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 ZSP.TO:
ZSP.TO vs. VOOZSP.TO vs. XSP.TOZSP.TO vs. ZCN.TOZSP.TO vs. XUS.TOZSP.TO vs. ZEQT.TOZSP.TO vs. VSP.TOZSP.TO vs. ZQQ.TO

Return for Risk

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.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
ZSP.TO
ZSP.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7272
Overall Rank
ZSP.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7676
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZSP.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7575
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZSP.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7676
Omega Ratio Rank
ZSP.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6767
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZSP.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6868
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. ZSP.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 500 Index ETF (ZSP.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.TOZSP.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.59
2.53

+0.06

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.53
3.45

+0.08

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.48

1.47

+0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.44

3.38

+0.06

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

13.10

12.70

+0.40

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. ZSP.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFV.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.59, which is comparable to the ZSP.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFV.TO and ZSP.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.TOZSP.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.59

2.53

+0.06

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.14

1.13

+0.01

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.97

0.98

-0.01

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

1.14

1.15

-0.01

Drawdowns

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFV.TO drawdown since its inception was -27.43%, roughly equal to the maximum ZSP.TO drawdown of -26.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFV.TO and ZSP.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VFV.TOZSP.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-27.43%

-26.94%

-0.49%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.62%

-8.61%

-0.01%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.05%

-18.95%

-0.10%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-22.19%

-22.25%

+0.06%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-27.43%

-26.94%

-0.49%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.18%

-0.29%

+0.11%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.35%

-3.34%

-0.01%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.26%

2.29%

-0.03%

Volatility

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV.TO) and BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP.TO) have volatilities of 3.05% and 3.14%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VFV.TOZSP.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.05%

3.14%

-0.09%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

8.55%

8.65%

-0.10%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

11.46%

11.53%

-0.07%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

14.91%

14.97%

-0.06%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

16.57%

16.36%

+0.21%

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

Both VFV.TO and ZSP.TO have an expense ratio of 0.09%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VFV.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Dividend Comparison

VFV.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, more than ZSP.TO's 0.75% 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%
ZSP.TO
BMO S&P 500 Index ETF		0.75%0.82%0.94%1.33%1.44%1.15%1.44%1.47%1.63%1.63%2.20%1.53%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.99, VFV.TO and ZSP.TO move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Both ETFs have the same 0.09% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VFV.TO and ZSP.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.09% per year.

Both ETFs track S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and BMO.

Portfolio Optimizer

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