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

XBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XBAL.TO (iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio) and VGRO.TO (Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio) are both Diversified Portfolio funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XBAL.TO returned 8.15%/yr vs 10.87%/yr for VGRO.TO. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.20% expense ratio.

Performance

XBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) and Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (VGRO.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, XBAL.TO achieves a 7.81% return, which is significantly lower than VGRO.TO's 10.34% return.

XBAL.TO

1D
-0.36%
1M
4.13%
YTD
7.81%
6M
6.00%
1Y
17.48%
3Y*
14.21%
5Y*
8.15%
10Y*
7.69%

VGRO.TO

1D
-0.53%
1M
5.15%
YTD
10.34%
6M
9.39%
1Y
24.67%
3Y*
17.93%
5Y*
10.87%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

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

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021202020192018
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		7.81%11.87%15.76%13.01%-11.19%10.11%10.67%15.28%-1.87%
VGRO.TO
Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio		10.34%16.11%19.27%14.79%-11.21%14.79%10.85%17.74%-4.13%

Correlation

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

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

Sectors
XBAL.TO
VGRO.TO

Technology

21.6%
20.3%

Financial Services

20.5%
20.6%

Industrials

12.4%
11.6%

Consumer Cyclical

8.0%
7.8%

Energy

7.5%
8.7%

Basic Materials

7.4%
8.6%

Healthcare

6.6%
6.7%

Communication Services

6.4%
6.0%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
4.6%

Utilities

2.9%
2.8%

Real Estate

2.3%
2.3%

Technology

XBAL.TO
21.6%
VGRO.TO
20.3%

Financial Services

XBAL.TO
20.5%
VGRO.TO
20.6%

Industrials

XBAL.TO
12.4%
VGRO.TO
11.6%

Consumer Cyclical

XBAL.TO
8.0%
VGRO.TO
7.8%

Energy

XBAL.TO
7.5%
VGRO.TO
8.7%

Basic Materials

XBAL.TO
7.4%
VGRO.TO
8.6%

Healthcare

XBAL.TO
6.6%
VGRO.TO
6.7%

Communication Services

XBAL.TO
6.4%
VGRO.TO
6.0%

Consumer Defensive

XBAL.TO
4.6%
VGRO.TO
4.6%

Utilities

XBAL.TO
2.9%
VGRO.TO
2.8%

Real Estate

XBAL.TO
2.3%
VGRO.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.

iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio

Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio

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
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

Return for Risk

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

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XBAL.TO
XBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6060
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6060
Sortino Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6262
Omega Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5757
Calmar Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6565
Martin Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO
VGRO.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7676
Overall Rank
VGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7979
Sortino Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7979
Omega Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7070
Calmar Ratio Rank
VGRO.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 7878
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.

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

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

XBAL.TOVGRO.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.06
2.57

-0.51

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.87
3.61

-0.74

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.48

-0.09

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.89

3.54

-0.64

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.15

15.41

-3.25

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

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

The current XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.06, which is comparable to the VGRO.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.57. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBAL.TO and VGRO.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

XBAL.TOVGRO.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.06

2.57

-0.51

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.93

1.03

-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

0.68

0.81

-0.13

Drawdowns

XBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TO - Drawdown Comparison

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

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Drawdown Indicators

XBAL.TOVGRO.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-28.83%

-25.36%

-3.47%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-6.06%

-7.01%

+0.95%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-9.35%

-12.50%

+3.15%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.12%

-17.39%

+0.27%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-20.93%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.36%

-0.53%

+0.17%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.39%

-3.41%

+0.02%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.44%

1.60%

-0.16%

Volatility

XBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) and Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio (VGRO.TO) have volatilities of 3.14% and 3.18%, 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

XBAL.TOVGRO.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.14%

3.18%

-0.04%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.21%

7.86%

-0.65%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

8.51%

9.62%

-1.11%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.79%

10.64%

-1.85%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

9.37%

12.54%

-3.17%

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

Both XBAL.TO and VGRO.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

XBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TO - Dividend Comparison

XBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.10%, more than VGRO.TO's 1.71% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VGRO.TO
Vanguard Growth ETF Portfolio		1.71%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		2.10%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, XBAL.TO and VGRO.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.

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

They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard.

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