VGSH vs. XIU.TO
VGSH (Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF) and XIU.TO (iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VGSH is a Government Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while XIU.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the S&P/TSX 60 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VGSH returned 1.73%/yr vs 12.07%/yr for XIU.TO. At a correlation of -0.08, they often move in opposite directions. VGSH charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for XIU.TO.
Performance
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
VGSH is traded in USD, while XIU.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the XIU.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VGSH achieves a 0.57% return, which is significantly lower than XIU.TO's 9.02% return. Over the past 10 years, VGSH has underperformed XIU.TO with an annualized return of 1.73%, while XIU.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 12.07% annualized return.
VGSH
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.13%
- YTD
- 0.57%
- 6M
- 0.83%
- 1Y
- 3.31%
- 3Y*
- 4.25%
- 5Y*
- 1.83%
- 10Y*
- 1.73%
XIU.TO
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- 2.21%
- YTD
- 9.02%
- 6M
- 10.35%
- 1Y
- 29.38%
- 3Y*
- 21.09%
- 5Y*
- 11.25%
- 10Y*
- 12.07%
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.57% | 5.07% | 4.00% | 4.31% | -3.86% | -0.60% | 3.04% | 3.52% | 1.55% | 0.04% |
XIU.TO iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF | 9.02% | 35.06% | 11.31% | 14.58% | -11.93% | 28.12% | 7.83% | 27.04% | -14.97% | 17.54% |
Correlation
The correlation between VGSH and XIU.TO is 0.16, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.07 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 23, 2009 | -0.08 |
The correlation between VGSH and XIU.TO shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (all time) to 0.16 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VGSH vs. XIU.TO — Risk / Return Rank
VGSH
XIU.TO
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) and iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (XIU.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.
| VGSH | XIU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.20 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.55 | 1.41 | +0.15 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.76 | 3.64 | +0.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.67 | 15.59 | -0.92 |
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Drawdowns
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VGSH drawdown since its inception was -5.70%, smaller than the maximum XIU.TO drawdown of -59.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VGSH and XIU.TO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VGSH | XIU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -5.70% | -59.23% | +53.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.88% | -8.10% | +7.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -0.97% | -12.38% | +11.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -5.66% | -24.07% | +18.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -5.70% | -40.99% | +35.29% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.21% | -0.86% | +0.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.60% | -10.95% | +10.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.23% | 1.89% | -1.66% |
Volatility
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (VGSH) is 0.37%, while iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (XIU.TO) has a volatility of 4.01%. This indicates that VGSH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XIU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VGSH | XIU.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.37% | 4.01% | -3.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.90% | 10.05% | -9.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28% | 12.83% | -11.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 1.97% | 14.47% | -12.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 1.58% | 16.45% | -14.87% |
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
VGSH has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than XIU.TO's 0.18% 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
VGSH vs. XIU.TO - Dividend Comparison
VGSH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.87%, more than XIU.TO's 2.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 3.87% | 4.00% | 4.18% | 3.31% | 1.15% | 0.66% | 1.74% | 2.28% | 1.79% | 1.10% | 0.84% | 0.69% |
XIU.TO iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF | 2.18% | 2.39% | 2.92% | 3.16% | 3.02% | 2.43% | 3.03% | 2.87% | 3.18% | 2.58% | 2.65% | 3.19% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VGSH and XIU.TO have a correlation of 0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, VGSH is cheaper at 0.03% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
VGSH is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for XIU.TO.
VGSH is categorized as Government Bonds, while XIU.TO is Canada Equities. VGSH tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index, while XIU.TO tracks S&P/TSX 60 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VGSH and 0.18% for XIU.TO.
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