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

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XBAL.TO (iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio) and XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XBAL.TO is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by iShares, while XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). XBAL.TO is actively managed, while XEF.TO is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XBAL.TO returned 7.69%/yr vs 9.77%/yr for XEF.TO. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XBAL.TO charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for XEF.TO.

Performance

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.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 iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.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 XEF.TO's 9.95% return. Over the past 10 years, XBAL.TO has underperformed XEF.TO with an annualized return of 7.69%, while XEF.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 9.77% annualized 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%

XEF.TO

1D
-0.41%
1M
5.38%
YTD
9.95%
6M
10.72%
1Y
23.12%
3Y*
17.83%
5Y*
10.89%
10Y*
9.77%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

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

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		7.81%11.87%15.76%13.01%-11.19%10.11%10.67%15.28%-2.80%5.48%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		9.95%25.69%12.04%15.21%-9.53%10.36%6.13%15.86%-6.65%18.19%

Correlation

The correlation between XBAL.TO and XEF.TO is 0.82, 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

0.82

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

0.83

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

0.83

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

0.75

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 16, 2013

0.66

The correlation between XBAL.TO and XEF.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.66 (all time) to 0.83 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

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

Sectors
XBAL.TO
XEF.TO

Technology

21.6%
10.2%

Financial Services

20.5%
22.9%

Industrials

12.4%
20.5%

Consumer Cyclical

8.0%
8.2%

Energy

7.5%
4.0%

Basic Materials

7.4%
6.6%

Healthcare

6.6%
9.8%

Communication Services

6.4%
4.4%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
6.4%

Utilities

2.9%
3.8%

Real Estate

2.3%
3.1%

Technology

XBAL.TO
21.6%
XEF.TO
10.2%

Financial Services

XBAL.TO
20.5%
XEF.TO
22.9%

Industrials

XBAL.TO
12.4%
XEF.TO
20.5%

Consumer Cyclical

XBAL.TO
8.0%
XEF.TO
8.2%

Energy

XBAL.TO
7.5%
XEF.TO
4.0%

Basic Materials

XBAL.TO
7.4%
XEF.TO
6.6%

Healthcare

XBAL.TO
6.6%
XEF.TO
9.8%

Communication Services

XBAL.TO
6.4%
XEF.TO
4.4%

Consumer Defensive

XBAL.TO
4.6%
XEF.TO
6.4%

Utilities

XBAL.TO
2.9%
XEF.TO
3.8%

Real Estate

XBAL.TO
2.3%
XEF.TO
3.1%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF

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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 XEF.TO:
XEF.TO vs. XEC.TOXEF.TO vs. VIU.TOXEF.TO vs. ZEA.TOXEF.TO vs. XFH.TOXEF.TO vs. IEFAXEF.TO vs. XIC.TOXEF.TO vs. XEF-U.TO

Return for Risk

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.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
XEF.TO
XEF.TO Risk / Return Rank: 4747
Overall Rank
XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4848
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 4848
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 4848
Omega Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 4141
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEF.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 4848
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. XEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.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.TOXEF.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.06
1.68

+0.38

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.87
2.41

+0.46

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.31

+0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.89

2.06

+0.83

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.15

8.22

+3.93

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. XEF.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.06, which is comparable to the XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBAL.TO and XEF.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.TOXEF.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.06

1.68

+0.38

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.93

0.81

+0.13

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.82

0.66

+0.16

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.68

0.71

-0.03

Drawdowns

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XBAL.TO drawdown since its inception was -28.83%, roughly equal to the maximum XEF.TO drawdown of -28.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XBAL.TO and XEF.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XBAL.TOXEF.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-28.83%

-28.51%

-0.32%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-6.06%

-11.27%

+5.21%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-9.35%

-14.32%

+4.97%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.12%

-24.58%

+7.46%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-20.93%

-28.51%

+7.58%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.36%

-1.09%

+0.73%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.39%

-4.62%

+1.23%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.44%

2.82%

-1.38%

Volatility

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) is 3.14%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) has a volatility of 4.77%. This indicates that XBAL.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XBAL.TOXEF.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.14%

4.77%

-1.63%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

7.21%

11.56%

-4.35%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

8.51%

13.85%

-5.34%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.79%

13.58%

-4.79%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

9.37%

14.85%

-5.48%

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

XBAL.TO has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than XEF.TO's 0.23% 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

XBAL.TO vs. XEF.TO - Dividend Comparison

XBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.10%, less than XEF.TO's 2.21% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
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%
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF		2.21%2.43%2.76%2.75%2.93%2.42%1.93%2.72%2.76%2.10%2.42%2.42%

Frequently Asked Questions

XBAL.TO and XEF.TO have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XBAL.TO is cheaper at 0.20% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XBAL.TO is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.23% for XEF.TO.

XBAL.TO is categorized as Diversified Portfolio, while XEF.TO is Foreign Large Cap Equities. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for XBAL.TO and 0.23% for XEF.TO.

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