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

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.TO

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) and BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.TO).

XBAL.TO and ZLB.TO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XBAL.TO is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Jun 21, 2007. ZLB.TO is an actively managed fund by BMO. It was launched on Oct 21, 2011.

Performance

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.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 BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		0.29%11.87%15.76%13.01%-11.19%10.11%10.67%15.28%-2.80%5.48%
ZLB.TO
BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF		1.42%20.31%15.20%9.29%-0.46%22.81%1.39%21.80%-2.87%10.96%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XBAL.TO achieves a 0.29% return, which is significantly lower than ZLB.TO's 1.42% return. Over the past 10 years, XBAL.TO has underperformed ZLB.TO with an annualized return of 7.19%, while ZLB.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 10.13% annualized return.

XBAL.TO

1D
1.71%
1M
-3.45%
YTD
0.29%
6M
0.54%
1Y
11.30%
3Y*
11.77%
5Y*
6.99%
10Y*
7.19%

ZLB.TO

1D
1.23%
1M
-2.74%
YTD
1.42%
6M
2.74%
1Y
15.44%
3Y*
12.86%
5Y*
11.57%
10Y*
10.13%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

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

BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF

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. GBAL.TOXBAL.TO vs. CASH
Often compared with ZLB.TO:
ZLB.TO vs. VDY.TOZLB.TO vs. XIU.TOZLB.TO vs. XDIV.TOZLB.TO vs. XMW.TOZLB.TO vs. XUT.TOZLB.TO vs. XUU-U.TOZLB.TO vs. ZWC.TO

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

XBAL.TO has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than ZLB.TO's 0.39% expense ratio.

ZLB.TO
BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio

Return for Risk

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.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: 6565
Overall Rank
XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6363
Sortino Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6565
Omega Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6565
Calmar Ratio Rank
XBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6767
Martin Ratio Rank
ZLB.TO
ZLB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8282
Overall Rank
ZLB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8181
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZLB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 8080
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZLB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8181
Omega Ratio Rank
ZLB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8787
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZLB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8282
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. ZLB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) and BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.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.TOZLB.TODifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.11

1.48

-0.37

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.53

1.99

-0.46

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.23

1.30

-0.07

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.53

2.57

-1.04

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

6.31

8.71

-2.40

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. ZLB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.11, which is comparable to the ZLB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.48. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBAL.TO and ZLB.TO, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

XBAL.TOZLB.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.11

1.48

-0.37

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.81

1.22

-0.40

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.78

0.84

-0.06

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.64

1.12

-0.48

Correlation

The correlation between XBAL.TO and ZLB.TO is 0.61, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.

Dividends

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.TO - Dividend Comparison

XBAL.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.25%, more than ZLB.TO's 1.92% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XBAL.TO
iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.25%2.24%2.68%2.40%2.09%1.74%1.99%2.26%3.39%2.93%3.64%3.29%
ZLB.TO
BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF		1.92%1.93%2.28%2.56%2.56%2.29%2.72%2.34%2.65%2.42%2.82%2.25%

Drawdowns

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XBAL.TO drawdown since its inception was -28.83%, smaller than the maximum ZLB.TO drawdown of -33.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XBAL.TO and ZLB.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XBAL.TOZLB.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-28.83%

-33.96%

+5.13%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.68%

-6.53%

-1.15%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.12%

-13.04%

-4.08%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-20.93%

-33.96%

+13.03%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.84%

-3.08%

-0.76%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.41%

-2.51%

-0.90%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.86%

1.93%

-0.07%

Volatility

XBAL.TO vs. ZLB.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio (XBAL.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.28% compared to BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (ZLB.TO) at 3.64%. This indicates that XBAL.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZLB.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.TOZLB.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.28%

3.64%

+0.64%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

6.56%

7.64%

-1.08%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

10.21%

10.52%

-0.31%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.64%

9.57%

-0.93%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

9.27%

12.19%

-2.92%