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XESG.TO vs. DSI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XESG.TO vs. DSI

Last updated Jun 14, 2026

XESG.TO (iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF) and DSI (iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XESG.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Canada GR CAD, while DSI is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XESG.TO returned 12.49%/yr vs 16.04%/yr for DSI. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XESG.TO charges 0.16%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for DSI.

Performance

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.TO) and iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

XESG.TO is traded in CAD, while DSI is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the DSI values have been converted to CAD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XESG.TO achieves a 10.50% return, which is significantly lower than DSI's 12.10% return.

XESG.TO

1D
0.81%
1M
1.78%
YTD
10.50%
6M
7.97%
1Y
29.17%
3Y*
21.05%
5Y*
12.49%
10Y*
—

DSI

1D
1.01%
1M
0.81%
YTD
12.10%
6M
12.10%
1Y
30.61%
3Y*
22.43%
5Y*
16.04%
10Y*
16.40%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
XESG.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF		10.50%26.34%20.23%10.30%-7.64%23.09%1.14%12.07%
DSI
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF		12.10%12.64%32.74%25.45%-16.75%31.25%18.07%12.59%

Correlation

The correlation between XESG.TO and DSI is 0.60, 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

0.60

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

0.58

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

0.61

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 22, 2019

0.52

The correlation between XESG.TO and DSI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.52 to 0.61 - a consistent structural relationship.

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XESG.TO
DSI

Financial Services

38.5%
10.1%

Energy

19.3%
1.5%

Basic Materials

17.9%
2.2%

Industrials

8.9%
8.0%

Technology

8.3%
43.1%

Utilities

2.7%
0.9%

Consumer Cyclical

2.2%
8.0%

Consumer Defensive

1.9%
4.0%

Real Estate

0.2%
2.6%

Communication Services

0.1%
12.8%

Healthcare

0.1%
7.0%

Financial Services

XESG.TO
38.5%
DSI
10.1%

Energy

XESG.TO
19.3%
DSI
1.5%

Basic Materials

XESG.TO
17.9%
DSI
2.2%

Industrials

XESG.TO
8.9%
DSI
8.0%

Technology

XESG.TO
8.3%
DSI
43.1%

Utilities

XESG.TO
2.7%
DSI
0.9%

Consumer Cyclical

XESG.TO
2.2%
DSI
8.0%

Consumer Defensive

XESG.TO
1.9%
DSI
4.0%

Real Estate

XESG.TO
0.2%
DSI
2.6%

Communication Services

XESG.TO
0.1%
DSI
12.8%

Healthcare

XESG.TO
0.1%
DSI
7.0%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF

iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF

Often compared with XESG.TO:
XESG.TO vs. XCSR.TOXESG.TO vs. XEQT.TOXESG.TO vs. SCHGXESG.TO vs. VFV.TOXESG.TO vs. SPYXESG.TO vs. XIU.TOXESG.TO vs. GEQT.TO
Often compared with DSI:
DSI vs. SPYDSI vs. VOODSI vs. FSLEXDSI vs. XSUS.TODSI vs. VTIDSI vs. QQQDSI vs. SPYG

Return for Risk

XESG.TO vs. DSI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XESG.TO
XESG.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7575
Overall Rank
XESG.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7676
Omega Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7171
Calmar Ratio Rank
XESG.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8080
Martin Ratio Rank
DSI
DSI Risk / Return Rank: 6161
Overall Rank
DSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
DSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 6464
Sortino Ratio Rank
DSI Omega Ratio Rank: 6464
Omega Ratio Rank
DSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 5252
Calmar Ratio Rank
DSI Martin Ratio Rank: 6161
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.

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.TO) and iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

XESG.TODSIDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.14
2.03

+0.11

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.73
2.79

-0.06

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.39

1.35

+0.04

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.12

2.70

+0.43

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

13.67

9.78

+3.89

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XESG.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.14, which is comparable to the DSI Sharpe Ratio of 2.03. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XESG.TO and DSI, 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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Drawdowns

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XESG.TO drawdown since its inception was -39.40%, smaller than the maximum DSI drawdown of -46.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XESG.TO and DSI.

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Drawdown Indicators

XESG.TODSIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-39.40%

-46.77%

+7.37%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.28%

-10.51%

+1.23%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.14%

-21.44%

+7.30%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-17.82%

-24.84%

+7.02%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-28.10%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.00%

-1.56%

+0.56%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-5.08%

-8.95%

+3.87%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.12%

2.90%

-0.78%

Volatility

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF (XESG.TO) is 4.58%, while iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI) has a volatility of 5.41%. This indicates that XESG.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DSI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XESG.TODSIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.58%

5.41%

-0.83%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.34%

11.15%

+0.19%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

13.55%

13.94%

-0.39%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

13.90%

18.89%

-4.99%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

21.98%

19.76%

+2.22%

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Expense Ratio Comparison

XESG.TO has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is lower than DSI's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XESG.TO vs. DSI - Dividend Comparison

XESG.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.99%, more than DSI's 0.86% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
DSI
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF		0.86%0.92%1.03%1.19%1.39%0.99%1.22%1.40%1.63%1.28%1.51%1.46%
XESG.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF		1.99%2.17%2.57%2.89%2.77%2.01%2.30%1.08%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

XESG.TO and DSI have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XESG.TO is cheaper at 0.16% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XESG.TO is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for DSI.

XESG.TO is categorized as Canada Equities, while DSI is Large Cap Growth Equities. XESG.TO tracks Morningstar Canada GR CAD, while DSI tracks MSCI KLD 400 Social Index. Their fees differ too: 0.16% for XESG.TO and 0.25% for DSI.

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