XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

XBB.TO (iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF) is Intermediate Core Bond fund tracking the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index, while BCE.TO (BCE Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XBB.TO returned 1.55%/yr vs 0.29%/yr for BCE.TO. At a 0.03 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (XBB.TO) and BCE Inc. (BCE.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XBB.TO achieves a 0.89% return, which is significantly lower than BCE.TO's 4.45% return. Over the past 10 years, XBB.TO has outperformed BCE.TO with an annualized return of 1.55%, while BCE.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 0.29% annualized return.

XBB.TO

• 1D: -0.39%
• 1M: 0.01%
• YTD: 0.89%
• 6M: 1.29%
• 1Y: 2.87%
• 3Y*: 4.23%
• 5Y*: 0.54%
• 10Y*: 1.55%

BCE.TO

• 1D: -0.79%
• 1M: 2.06%
• YTD: 4.45%
• 6M: 7.05%
• 1Y: 19.46%
• 3Y*: -11.69%
• 5Y*: -5.02%
• 10Y*: 0.29%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XBB.TO iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF	0.89%	2.59%	4.00%	6.64%	-11.66%	-2.81%	8.58%	7.28%	1.00%	2.42%
BCE.TO BCE Inc.	4.45%	5.35%	-30.02%	-6.22%	-4.33%	27.90%	-3.92%	17.38%	-5.65%	9.18%

Correlation

The correlation between XBB.TO and BCE.TO is 0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.09
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.21
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.21
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.15
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 7, 2006	0.03

The correlation between XBB.TO and BCE.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.03 (all time) to 0.21 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

XBB.TO

XBB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 21
XBB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 21
XBB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
XBB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 19
XBB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
XBB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 22

BCE.TO

BCE.TO Risk / Return Rank: 71
BCE.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 75
BCE.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 70
BCE.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 66
BCE.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
BCE.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 70

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.

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (XBB.TO) and BCE Inc. (BCE.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.

	XBB.TO	BCE.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.66	1.12	-0.46
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.92	1.68	-0.76
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.11	1.19	-0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.06	1.81	-0.75
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.47	3.45	-0.97
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XBB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.66, which is lower than the BCE.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.12. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBB.TO and BCE.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

	XBB.TO	BCE.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.66	1.12	-0.46
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.08	-0.29	+0.38
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.23	0.02	+0.22
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.60	0.29	+0.32

Drawdowns

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XBB.TO drawdown since its inception was -18.16%, smaller than the maximum BCE.TO drawdown of -50.02%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XBB.TO and BCE.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XBB.TO	BCE.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.16%	-50.02%	+31.86%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.73%	-10.82%	+8.09%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-5.42%	-43.81%	+38.39%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.90%	-50.02%	+34.12%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-18.16%	-50.02%	+31.86%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.98%	-39.17%	+37.19%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.07%	-11.54%	+8.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.16%	5.66%	-4.50%

Volatility

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (XBB.TO) is 1.54%, while BCE Inc. (BCE.TO) has a volatility of 4.92%. This indicates that XBB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BCE.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XBB.TO	BCE.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.54%	4.92%	-3.38%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.42%	12.16%	-8.74%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	4.37%	17.52%	-13.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	6.63%	17.15%	-10.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	6.70%	17.51%	-10.81%

Dividends

XBB.TO vs. BCE.TO - Dividend Comparison

XBB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.43%, less than BCE.TO's 5.18% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BCE.TO BCE Inc.	5.18%	7.06%	11.97%	7.42%	6.19%	5.32%	6.12%	5.27%	5.60%	4.75%	4.70%	4.86%
XBB.TO iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF	3.43%	3.39%	3.25%	3.01%	2.91%	2.54%	2.55%	2.80%	2.92%	2.83%	2.81%	2.87%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XBB.TO and BCE.TO in my portfolio?

XBB.TO and BCE.TO have a correlation of 0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.