VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

VI.TO (Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged)) and ZSP.TO (BMO S&P 500 Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VI.TO is a International Equity fund tracking the FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index, while ZSP.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VI.TO returned 11.64%/yr vs 15.98%/yr for ZSP.TO. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VI.TO charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for ZSP.TO.

Performance

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VI.TO) and BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VI.TO achieves a 16.50% return, which is significantly higher than ZSP.TO's 12.15% return. Over the past 10 years, VI.TO has underperformed ZSP.TO with an annualized return of 11.64%, while ZSP.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.98% annualized return.

VI.TO

• 1D: -0.47%
• 1M: 7.15%
• YTD: 16.50%
• 6M: 19.02%
• 1Y: 33.91%
• 3Y*: 19.23%
• 5Y*: 12.97%
• 10Y*: 11.64%

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)

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VI.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged)	16.50%	24.50%	10.41%	19.38%	-7.76%	17.72%	2.78%	21.88%	-11.36%	18.06%
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 VI.TO and ZSP.TO is 0.71, 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	0.71
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.65
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.67
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.63
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 9, 2015	0.63

The correlation between VI.TO and ZSP.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.63 to 0.71 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VI.TO

VI.TO Risk / Return Rank: 76
VI.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
VI.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
VI.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 81
VI.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
VI.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 75

ZSP.TO

ZSP.TO Risk / Return Rank: 72
ZSP.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
ZSP.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
ZSP.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 76
ZSP.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 67
ZSP.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 68

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.

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VI.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.

	VI.TO	ZSP.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.54	2.53	+0.02
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.53	3.45	+0.08
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.48	1.47	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.47	3.38	+0.10
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.33	12.70	+1.63
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VI.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.54, which is comparable to the ZSP.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.53. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VI.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VI.TO	ZSP.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.54	2.53	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.94	1.13	-0.18
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.74	0.98	-0.24
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.66	1.15	-0.49

Drawdowns

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VI.TO drawdown since its inception was -33.54%, which is greater than ZSP.TO's maximum drawdown of -26.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VI.TO and ZSP.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	VI.TO	ZSP.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.54%	-26.94%	-6.60%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.80%	-8.61%	-1.19%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-13.80%	-18.95%	+5.15%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-16.65%	-22.25%	+5.60%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.54%	-26.94%	-6.60%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.47%	-0.29%	-0.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.19%	-3.34%	-0.85%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.37%	2.29%	+0.08%

Volatility

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VI.TO) has a higher volatility of 5.25% compared to BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP.TO) at 3.14%. This indicates that VI.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZSP.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VI.TO	ZSP.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.25%	3.14%	+2.11%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.36%	8.65%	+2.71%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.40%	11.53%	+1.87%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.83%	14.97%	-1.14%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.87%	16.36%	-0.49%

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

VI.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is higher than ZSP.TO's 0.09% 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

VI.TO vs. ZSP.TO - Dividend Comparison

VI.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.14%, more than ZSP.TO's 0.75% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VI.TO Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index ETF (CAD-hedged)	2.14%	2.44%	2.58%	2.59%	2.87%	2.31%	1.98%	2.64%	2.75%	2.08%	1.62%	0.27%
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

Can I hold both VI.TO and ZSP.TO in my portfolio?

VI.TO and ZSP.TO have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VI.TO or ZSP.TO?

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

Which ETF is cheaper, VI.TO or ZSP.TO?

ZSP.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for VI.TO.

What is the main difference between VI.TO and ZSP.TO?

VI.TO is categorized as International Equity, while ZSP.TO is S&P 500. VI.TO tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America Index, while ZSP.TO tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for VI.TO and 0.09% for ZSP.TO.