XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XDV.TO (iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF) and XGD.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XDV.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Canada GR CAD, while XGD.TO is a Precious Metals fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl Gold GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XDV.TO returned 11.99%/yr vs 14.79%/yr for XGD.TO. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XDV.TO charges 0.55%/yr vs 0.61%/yr for XGD.TO.

Performance

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF (XDV.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XDV.TO achieves a 16.45% return, which is significantly higher than XGD.TO's 3.35% return. Over the past 10 years, XDV.TO has underperformed XGD.TO with an annualized return of 11.99%, while XGD.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 14.79% annualized return.

XDV.TO

• 1D: -0.09%
• 1M: 4.74%
• YTD: 16.45%
• 6M: 20.26%
• 1Y: 39.82%
• 3Y*: 23.34%
• 5Y*: 13.46%
• 10Y*: 11.99%

XGD.TO

• 1D: -2.80%
• 1M: 1.62%
• YTD: 3.35%
• 6M: 8.72%
• 1Y: 67.78%
• 3Y*: 43.11%
• 5Y*: 22.30%
• 10Y*: 14.79%

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

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XDV.TO iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF	16.45%	29.37%	21.28%	8.00%	-8.57%	31.30%	-0.38%	21.30%	-12.48%	11.06%
XGD.TO iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF	3.35%	144.45%	19.63%	3.91%	-3.10%	-5.81%	21.10%	40.18%	-4.10%	0.96%

Correlation

The correlation between XDV.TO and XGD.TO is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.30
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.27
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.10
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 28, 2005	0.13

The correlation between XDV.TO and XGD.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.10 (10 years) to 0.30 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XDV.TO	XGD.TO
Financial Services	51.5%	-
Energy	11.8%	-
Consumer Cyclical	11.5%	-
Utilities	11.0%	-
Communication Services	7.5%	-
Industrials	3.3%	-
Consumer Defensive	1.7%	-
Basic Materials	1.6%	100.0%
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-

Return for Risk

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

XDV.TO

XDV.TO Risk / Return Rank: 97
XDV.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
XDV.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
XDV.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 98
XDV.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
XDV.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 97

XGD.TO

XGD.TO Risk / Return Rank: 42
XGD.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
XGD.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 37
XGD.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 43
XGD.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 47
XGD.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 39

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.

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF (XDV.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD.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.

	XDV.TO	XGD.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	5.11	1.59	+3.52
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	7.58	1.97	+5.61
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	2.02	1.28	+0.74
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	8.35	2.35	+6.00
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	41.42	6.22	+35.20
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XDV.TO Sharpe Ratio is 5.11, which is higher than the XGD.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.59. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XDV.TO and XGD.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

	XDV.TO	XGD.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.11	1.59	+3.52
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.26	0.69	+0.58
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.82	0.45	+0.38
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.59	0.25	+0.34

Drawdowns

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XDV.TO drawdown since its inception was -48.56%, smaller than the maximum XGD.TO drawdown of -72.55%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XDV.TO and XGD.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XDV.TO	XGD.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-48.56%	-72.55%	+23.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.79%	-28.95%	+24.16%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.99%	-28.95%	+15.96%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.52%	-40.82%	+20.30%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-39.08%	-46.96%	+7.88%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.18%	-23.49%	+23.31%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.78%	-28.30%	+21.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.96%	10.93%	-9.97%

Volatility

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF (XDV.TO) is 2.79%, while iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD.TO) has a volatility of 14.43%. This indicates that XDV.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XGD.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XDV.TO	XGD.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.79%	14.43%	-11.64%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.53%	34.40%	-27.87%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.83%	42.86%	-35.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.71%	32.64%	-21.93%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.63%	33.38%	-18.75%

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XDV.TO has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is lower than XGD.TO's 0.61% expense ratio.

Dividends

XDV.TO vs. XGD.TO - Dividend Comparison

XDV.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.36%, more than XGD.TO's 0.60% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XDV.TO iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF	3.36%	3.46%	4.34%	4.62%	4.49%	3.82%	4.78%	4.21%	4.92%	3.65%	3.91%	4.75%
XGD.TO iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF	0.60%	0.62%	0.93%	1.49%	1.80%	1.38%	0.35%	0.54%	0.25%	0.14%	0.09%	0.57%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XDV.TO and XGD.TO in my portfolio?

XDV.TO and XGD.TO have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XDV.TO or XGD.TO?

On fees, XDV.TO is cheaper at 0.55% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XDV.TO or XGD.TO?

XDV.TO is cheaper with a 0.55% expense ratio, compared with 0.61% for XGD.TO.

What is the main difference between XDV.TO and XGD.TO?

XDV.TO is categorized as Canada Equities, while XGD.TO is Precious Metals. XDV.TO tracks Morningstar Canada GR CAD, while XGD.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl Gold GR CAD. Their fees differ too: 0.55% for XDV.TO and 0.61% for XGD.TO.