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VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VGRO.TO (Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio) and XBAL.TO (iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, VGRO.TO returned 11.00%/yr vs 8.24%/yr for XBAL.TO. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.20% expense ratio.

Performance

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (VGRO.TO) and iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.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, VGRO.TO achieves a 10.97% return, which is significantly higher than XBAL.TO's 8.30% return.

VGRO.TO

1D
0.57%
1M
5.12%
YTD
10.97%
6M
9.68%
1Y
25.48%
3Y*
18.25%
5Y*
11.00%
10Y*
—

XBAL.TO

1D
0.45%
1M
4.08%
YTD
8.30%
6M
6.25%
1Y
17.97%
3Y*
14.47%
5Y*
8.24%
10Y*
7.68%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021202020192018
VGRO.TO
Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio		10.97%16.11%19.27%14.79%-11.21%14.79%10.85%17.74%-4.13%
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		8.30%11.87%15.76%13.01%-11.19%10.11%10.67%15.28%-1.87%

Correlation

The correlation between VGRO.TO and XBAL.TO is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

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

0.92

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

0.95

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

0.95

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2018

0.91

The correlation between VGRO.TO and XBAL.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VGRO.TO
XBAL.TO

Financial Services

20.6%
20.5%

Technology

20.3%
21.6%

Industrials

11.6%
12.4%

Energy

8.7%
7.5%

Basic Materials

8.6%
7.4%

Consumer Cyclical

7.8%
8.0%

Healthcare

6.7%
6.6%

Communication Services

6.0%
6.4%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
4.6%

Utilities

2.8%
2.9%

Real Estate

2.3%
2.3%

Financial Services

VGRO.TO
20.6%
XBAL.TO
20.5%

Technology

VGRO.TO
20.3%
XBAL.TO
21.6%

Industrials

VGRO.TO
11.6%
XBAL.TO
12.4%

Energy

VGRO.TO
8.7%
XBAL.TO
7.5%

Basic Materials

VGRO.TO
8.6%
XBAL.TO
7.4%

Consumer Cyclical

VGRO.TO
7.8%
XBAL.TO
8.0%

Healthcare

VGRO.TO
6.7%
XBAL.TO
6.6%

Communication Services

VGRO.TO
6.0%
XBAL.TO
6.4%

Consumer Defensive

VGRO.TO
4.6%
XBAL.TO
4.6%

Utilities

VGRO.TO
2.8%
XBAL.TO
2.9%

Real Estate

VGRO.TO
2.3%
XBAL.TO
2.3%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio

iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio

Often compared with VGRO.TO:
VGRO.TO vs. VEQT.TOVGRO.TO vs. XEQT.TOVGRO.TO vs. VBAL.TOVGRO.TO vs. XGRO.TOVGRO.TO vs. VDY.TOVGRO.TO vs. TGRO.TOVGRO.TO vs. ZGRO.TO
Often compared with XBAL.TO:
XBAL.TO vs. XEQT.TOXBAL.TO vs. VBAL.TOXBAL.TO vs. XCNS.TOXBAL.TO vs. XEI.TOXBAL.TO vs. ZBAL.TOXBAL.TO vs. ZLB.TOXBAL.TO vs. GBAL.TO

Return for Risk

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VGRO.TO
VGRO.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8181
Overall Rank
VGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8282
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 8484
Sortino Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8383
Omega Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7474
Calmar Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8181
Martin Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO
XBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6565
Overall Rank
XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6565
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6565
Sortino Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6767
Omega Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6161
Calmar Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6969
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.

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (VGRO.TO) and iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.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.

VGRO.TOXBAL.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.66
2.12

+0.54

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.72
2.94

+0.77

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.50

1.40

+0.10

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.65

2.98

+0.68

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

15.92

12.49

+3.42

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

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.66, which is comparable to the XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.12. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VGRO.TO and XBAL.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

VGRO.TOXBAL.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.66

2.12

+0.54

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.04

0.94

+0.10

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.82

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.82

0.68

+0.14

Drawdowns

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VGRO.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.36%, smaller than the maximum XBAL.TO drawdown of -28.83%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGRO.TO and XBAL.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

VGRO.TOXBAL.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-25.36%

-28.83%

+3.47%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.01%

-6.06%

-0.95%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-12.50%

-9.35%

-3.15%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.39%

-17.12%

-0.27%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-20.93%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.41%

-3.39%

-0.02%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.60%

1.44%

+0.16%

Volatility

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (VGRO.TO) and iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) have volatilities of 3.18% 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

VGRO.TOXBAL.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.18%

3.14%

+0.04%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.88%

7.22%

+0.66%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

9.63%

8.52%

+1.11%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

10.64%

8.79%

+1.85%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

12.53%

9.37%

+3.16%

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VGRO.TO and XBAL.TO have an expense ratio of 0.20%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VGRO.TO vs. XBAL.TO - Dividend Comparison

VGRO.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.70%, less than XBAL.TO's 2.09% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VGRO.TO
Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio		1.70%1.88%2.01%2.13%2.14%1.80%1.77%2.17%2.09%0.00%0.00%0.00%
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.09%2.24%2.68%2.40%2.09%1.74%1.99%2.26%3.39%2.93%3.64%3.29%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.92, VGRO.TO and XBAL.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 0.20% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VGRO.TO and XBAL.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.20% per year.

They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares.

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