XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

XEI.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF) and VCE.TO (Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF) are both Canada Equities funds - XEI.TO tracks the S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index while VCE.TO tracks the FTSE Canada Domestic Index. Both are passively managed. A 0.50 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XEI.TO charges 0.22%/yr vs 0.06%/yr for VCE.TO.

Performance

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF (VCE.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XEI.TO achieves a 22.40% return, which is significantly higher than VCE.TO's 11.48% return.

XEI.TO

• 1D: -0.69%
• 1M: 3.46%
• YTD: 22.40%
• 6M: 23.22%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VCE.TO

• 1D: 1.31%
• 1M: 5.01%
• YTD: 11.48%
• 6M: 10.47%
• 1Y: 31.35%
• 3Y*: 22.98%
• 5Y*: 14.72%
• 10Y*: 12.70%

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

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
XEI.TO iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF	22.40%	17.82%
VCE.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF	11.48%	17.34%

Correlation

The correlation between XEI.TO and VCE.TO is 0.50, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 9, 2025	0.50

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XEI.TO	VCE.TO
Energy	32.1%	18.4%
Financial Services	31.4%	37.4%
Utilities	11.2%	1.9%
Communication Services	7.6%	1.5%
Consumer Cyclical	6.2%	3.4%
Real Estate	4.8%	0.2%
Basic Materials	4.6%	15.4%
Technology	0.7%	8.2%
Industrials	0.7%	10.6%
Consumer Defensive	0.5%	2.9%
Healthcare	0.2%	-

Return for Risk

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

VCE.TO

VCE.TO Risk / Return Rank: 80
VCE.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 80
VCE.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
VCE.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 78
VCE.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
VCE.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 86

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.

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF (XEI.TO) and Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF (VCE.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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XEI.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	2.55	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.16	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.85	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	6.14	0.78	+5.36

Drawdowns

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XEI.TO drawdown since its inception was -2.24%, smaller than the maximum VCE.TO drawdown of -35.92%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XEI.TO and VCE.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XEI.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-2.24%	-35.92%	+33.68%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-8.09%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.16%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-15.90%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-35.92%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.69%	0.00%	-0.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.39%	-3.73%	+3.34%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	1.73%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	XEI.TO	VCE.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	3.62%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	10.07%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.29%	12.36%	-5.07%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.29%	12.79%	-5.50%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	7.29%	14.99%	-7.70%

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XEI.TO has a 0.22% expense ratio, which is higher than VCE.TO's 0.06% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XEI.TO vs. VCE.TO - Dividend Comparison

XEI.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.55%, more than VCE.TO's 2.14% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VCE.TO Vanguard FTSE Canada Index ETF	2.14%	2.42%	2.84%	3.16%	3.21%	2.61%	2.93%	3.01%	3.21%	2.57%	2.64%	2.98%
XEI.TO iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF	3.55%	4.39%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XEI.TO and VCE.TO in my portfolio?

XEI.TO and VCE.TO have a correlation of 0.50, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XEI.TO or VCE.TO?

On fees, VCE.TO is cheaper at 0.06% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XEI.TO or VCE.TO?

VCE.TO is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.22% for XEI.TO.

What is the main difference between XEI.TO and VCE.TO?

XEI.TO tracks S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index, while VCE.TO tracks FTSE Canada Domestic Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.22% for XEI.TO and 0.06% for VCE.TO.