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XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XIC.TO (iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF) and VCNS.TO (Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio) are both exchange-traded funds - XIC.TO is a Canada Equities fund tracking the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, while VCNS.TO is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard. XIC.TO is passively managed, while VCNS.TO is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XIC.TO returned 14.60%/yr vs 4.95%/yr for VCNS.TO. A 0.72 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XIC.TO charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for VCNS.TO.

Performance

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (XIC.TO) and Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.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, XIC.TO achieves a 10.75% return, which is significantly higher than VCNS.TO's 5.71% return.

XIC.TO

1D
-1.05%
1M
3.59%
YTD
10.75%
6M
12.90%
1Y
34.79%
3Y*
23.62%
5Y*
14.60%
10Y*
12.48%

VCNS.TO

1D
-0.26%
1M
3.27%
YTD
5.71%
6M
3.72%
1Y
12.22%
3Y*
9.78%
5Y*
4.95%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021202020192018
XIC.TO
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF		10.75%31.51%21.48%11.73%-5.82%23.42%5.61%22.76%-6.91%
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		5.71%8.13%9.74%10.32%-11.72%5.79%9.46%12.04%257.13%

Correlation

The correlation between XIC.TO and VCNS.TO is 0.78, 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

0.78

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

0.75

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

0.70

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 2, 2018

0.72

The correlation between XIC.TO and VCNS.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XIC.TO
VCNS.TO

Financial Services

34.0%
20.6%

Energy

18.1%
8.6%

Basic Materials

17.2%
8.6%

Industrials

10.0%
11.6%

Technology

6.7%
20.4%

Consumer Cyclical

3.7%
7.9%

Utilities

2.9%
2.8%

Consumer Defensive

2.9%
4.6%

Communication Services

1.8%
6.0%

Real Estate

1.5%
2.3%

Healthcare

0.1%
6.7%

Financial Services

XIC.TO
34.0%
VCNS.TO
20.6%

Energy

XIC.TO
18.1%
VCNS.TO
8.6%

Basic Materials

XIC.TO
17.2%
VCNS.TO
8.6%

Industrials

XIC.TO
10.0%
VCNS.TO
11.6%

Technology

XIC.TO
6.7%
VCNS.TO
20.4%

Consumer Cyclical

XIC.TO
3.7%
VCNS.TO
7.9%

Utilities

XIC.TO
2.9%
VCNS.TO
2.8%

Consumer Defensive

XIC.TO
2.9%
VCNS.TO
4.6%

Communication Services

XIC.TO
1.8%
VCNS.TO
6.0%

Real Estate

XIC.TO
1.5%
VCNS.TO
2.3%

Healthcare

XIC.TO
0.1%
VCNS.TO
6.7%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio

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XIC.TO vs. XIU.TOXIC.TO vs. VDY.TOXIC.TO vs. ZCN.TOXIC.TO vs. VCE.TOXIC.TO vs. XEF.TOXIC.TO vs. VEQT.TOXIC.TO vs. VO
Often compared with VCNS.TO:
VCNS.TO vs. VBAL.TOVCNS.TO vs. XCNS.TOVCNS.TO vs. VOOVCNS.TO vs. VGRO.TOVCNS.TO vs. VEQT.TOVCNS.TO vs. VCIP.TOVCNS.TO vs. VFV.TO

Return for Risk

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XIC.TO
XIC.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8080
Overall Rank
XIC.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8383
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XIC.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7878
Sortino Ratio Rank
XIC.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8181
Omega Ratio Rank
XIC.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7373
Calmar Ratio Rank
XIC.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8383
Martin Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO
VCNS.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5656
Overall Rank
VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5757
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 5757
Sortino Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 5050
Calmar Ratio Rank
VCNS.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 5757
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.

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (XIC.TO) and Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.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.

XIC.TOVCNS.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.76
1.97

+0.79

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.57
2.78

+0.79

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.50

1.38

+0.12

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.76

2.53

+1.24

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

17.44

10.00

+7.44

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

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XIC.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.76, which is higher than the VCNS.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.97. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XIC.TO and VCNS.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

XIC.TOVCNS.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.76

1.97

+0.79

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.12

0.73

+0.39

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.84

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.54

0.25

+0.29

Drawdowns

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XIC.TO drawdown since its inception was -48.21%, which is greater than VCNS.TO's maximum drawdown of -18.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XIC.TO and VCNS.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XIC.TOVCNS.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-48.21%

-18.04%

-30.17%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.29%

-4.86%

-4.43%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-12.27%

-7.44%

-4.83%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-16.24%

-15.73%

-0.51%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-37.21%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.05%

-0.26%

-0.79%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.04%

-3.04%

-4.00%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.00%

1.22%

+0.78%

Volatility

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (XIC.TO) has a higher volatility of 3.48% compared to Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS.TO) at 2.44%. This indicates that XIC.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VCNS.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XIC.TOVCNS.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.48%

2.44%

+1.04%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.33%

5.31%

+5.02%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.67%

6.22%

+6.45%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

13.13%

6.82%

+6.31%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

14.96%

91.48%

-76.52%

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XIC.TO has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than VCNS.TO'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

XIC.TO vs. VCNS.TO - Dividend Comparison

XIC.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.02%, less than VCNS.TO's 2.43% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VCNS.TO
Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio		2.43%2.54%2.58%2.57%2.28%2.09%1.88%2.28%75.90%0.00%0.00%0.00%
XIC.TO
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF		2.02%2.23%2.64%2.95%3.10%2.44%3.03%3.01%3.19%2.49%2.72%3.21%

Frequently Asked Questions

XIC.TO and VCNS.TO have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

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

XIC.TO is cheaper with a 0.06% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for VCNS.TO.

XIC.TO is categorized as Canada Equities, while VCNS.TO is Diversified Portfolio. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.06% for XIC.TO and 0.25% for VCNS.TO.

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