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

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XBM.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF) and XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XBM.TO is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Can Natural Resource NR CAD, while XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XBM.TO returned 20.17%/yr vs 9.77%/yr for XEF.TO. At a 0.48 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XBM.TO charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for XEF.TO.

Performance

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF (XBM.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, XBM.TO achieves a 38.48% return, which is significantly higher than XEF.TO's 9.95% return. Over the past 10 years, XBM.TO has outperformed XEF.TO with an annualized return of 20.17%, while XEF.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 9.77% annualized return.

XBM.TO

1D
-3.17%
1M
21.23%
YTD
38.48%
6M
46.72%
1Y
119.30%
3Y*
29.93%
5Y*
19.70%
10Y*
20.17%

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)

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

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XBM.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF		38.48%50.69%5.96%2.84%3.69%32.04%31.54%9.93%-22.39%32.45%
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 XBM.TO and XEF.TO is 0.57, 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

0.57

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

0.53

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

0.53

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

0.53

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

0.48

The correlation between XBM.TO and XEF.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.48 to 0.57 - a consistent structural relationship.

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

Sectors
XBM.TO
XEF.TO

Basic Materials

99.8%
6.6%

Industrials

0.2%
20.5%

Communication Services

-

4.4%

Consumer Cyclical

-

8.2%

Consumer Defensive

-

6.4%

Energy

-

4.0%

Financial Services

-

22.9%

Healthcare

-

9.8%

Real Estate

-

3.1%

Technology

-

10.2%

Utilities

-

3.8%

Basic Materials

XBM.TO
99.8%
XEF.TO
6.6%

Industrials

XBM.TO
0.2%
XEF.TO
20.5%

Communication Services

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
4.4%

Consumer Cyclical

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
8.2%

Consumer Defensive

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
6.4%

Energy

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
4.0%

Financial Services

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
22.9%

Healthcare

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
9.8%

Real Estate

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
3.1%

Technology

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
10.2%

Utilities

XBM.TO

-

XEF.TO
3.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF

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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

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XBM.TO
XBM.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8585
Overall Rank
XBM.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9292
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XBM.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 8080
Sortino Ratio Rank
XBM.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8080
Omega Ratio Rank
XBM.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8787
Calmar Ratio Rank
XBM.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8888
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.

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF (XBM.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.

XBM.TOXEF.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
3.37
1.68

+1.69

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.67
2.41

+1.25

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.49

1.31

+0.18

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

5.02

2.06

+2.96

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

19.44

8.22

+11.21

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

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XBM.TO Sharpe Ratio is 3.37, which is higher than the XEF.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.68. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XBM.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

XBM.TOXEF.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

3.37

1.68

+1.69

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.60

0.81

-0.21

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.62

0.66

-0.04

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.25

0.71

-0.46

Drawdowns

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XBM.TO drawdown since its inception was -67.40%, which is greater than XEF.TO's maximum drawdown of -28.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XBM.TO and XEF.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XBM.TOXEF.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-67.40%

-28.51%

-38.89%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-23.88%

-11.27%

-12.61%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-37.45%

-14.32%

-23.13%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-40.57%

-24.58%

-15.99%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-57.24%

-28.51%

-28.73%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.17%

-1.09%

-2.08%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-25.80%

-4.62%

-21.18%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

6.16%

2.82%

+3.34%

Volatility

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF (XBM.TO) has a higher volatility of 13.03% compared to iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) at 4.77%. This indicates that XBM.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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

XBM.TOXEF.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

13.03%

4.77%

+8.26%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

29.68%

11.56%

+18.12%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

35.62%

13.85%

+21.77%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

33.06%

13.58%

+19.48%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

32.66%

14.85%

+17.81%

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

XBM.TO has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than XEF.TO's 0.23% expense ratio.

Dividends

XBM.TO vs. XEF.TO - Dividend Comparison

XBM.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.62%, less than XEF.TO's 2.21% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XBM.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF		0.62%0.86%1.25%2.09%4.83%3.01%1.81%3.71%3.43%1.63%2.42%5.70%
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

XBM.TO and XEF.TO have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XEF.TO is cheaper at 0.23% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XEF.TO is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for XBM.TO.

XBM.TO is categorized as Energy Equities, while XEF.TO is Foreign Large Cap Equities. XBM.TO tracks Morningstar Can Natural Resource NR CAD, while XEF.TO tracks MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Their fees differ too: 0.60% for XBM.TO and 0.23% for XEF.TO.

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