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

XMA.TO vs. XBM.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XMA.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF) and XBM.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XMA.TO is a Materials fund tracking the S&P/TSX Capped Materials TR, while XBM.TO is a Energy Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Can Natural Resource NR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XMA.TO returned 14.00%/yr vs 20.17%/yr for XBM.TO. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.60% expense ratio.

Performance

XMA.TO vs. XBM.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF (XMA.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF (XBM.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, XMA.TO achieves a 7.60% return, which is significantly lower than XBM.TO's 38.48% return. Over the past 10 years, XMA.TO has underperformed XBM.TO with an annualized return of 14.00%, while XBM.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 20.17% annualized return.

XMA.TO

1D
-3.13%
1M
5.70%
YTD
7.60%
6M
12.34%
1Y
64.71%
3Y*
35.49%
5Y*
20.09%
10Y*
14.00%

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

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

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XMA.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF		7.60%99.21%20.72%-2.04%1.35%3.31%19.73%24.63%-10.46%7.07%
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%

Correlation

The correlation between XMA.TO and XBM.TO is 0.68, 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

0.68

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

0.67

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

0.69

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

0.57

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 20, 2011

0.54

The correlation between XMA.TO and XBM.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.54 (all time) to 0.69 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

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

Sectors
XMA.TO
XBM.TO

Basic Materials

98.4%
99.8%

Consumer Cyclical

1.6%

-

Industrials

0.0%
0.2%

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Real Estate

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Basic Materials

XMA.TO
98.4%
XBM.TO
99.8%

Consumer Cyclical

XMA.TO
1.6%
XBM.TO

-

Industrials

XMA.TO
0.0%
XBM.TO
0.2%

Communication Services

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Consumer Defensive

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Energy

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Financial Services

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Healthcare

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Real Estate

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Technology

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

Utilities

XMA.TO

-

XBM.TO

-

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iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF

iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF

Often compared with XMA.TO:
XMA.TO vs. XGD.TOXMA.TO vs. XETM.TOXMA.TO vs. XIC.TOXMA.TO vs. ZUT.TOXMA.TO vs. XIT.TOXMA.TO vs. XEQT.TOXMA.TO vs. VFV.TO
Often compared with XBM.TO:
XBM.TO vs. XMEXBM.TO vs. ZMT.TOXBM.TO vs. XEG.TOXBM.TO vs. XETM.TOXBM.TO vs. GDXXBM.TO vs. VDEXBM.TO vs. XIC.TO

Return for Risk

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

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XMA.TO
XMA.TO Risk / Return Rank: 4646
Overall Rank
XMA.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5050
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XMA.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 4141
Sortino Ratio Rank
XMA.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 4848
Omega Ratio Rank
XMA.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 4848
Calmar Ratio Rank
XMA.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 4242
Martin Ratio Rank
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
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.

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

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

XMA.TOXBM.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.75
3.37

-1.62

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.11
3.67

-1.56

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.31

1.49

-0.18

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.41

5.02

-2.61

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

6.76

19.44

-12.68

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

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

The current XMA.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.75, which is lower than the XBM.TO Sharpe Ratio of 3.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XMA.TO and XBM.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

XMA.TOXBM.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.75

3.37

-1.62

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.73

0.60

+0.13

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.53

0.62

-0.09

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.28

0.25

+0.03

Drawdowns

XMA.TO vs. XBM.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XMA.TO drawdown since its inception was -64.13%, roughly equal to the maximum XBM.TO drawdown of -67.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XMA.TO and XBM.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XMA.TOXBM.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-64.13%

-67.40%

+3.27%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-26.96%

-23.88%

-3.08%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-26.96%

-37.45%

+10.49%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-33.06%

-40.57%

+7.51%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-33.06%

-57.24%

+24.18%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-18.76%

-3.17%

-15.59%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-26.31%

-25.80%

-0.51%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

9.60%

6.16%

+3.44%

Volatility

XMA.TO vs. XBM.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF (XMA.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF (XBM.TO) have volatilities of 13.42% and 13.03%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XMA.TOXBM.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

13.42%

13.03%

+0.39%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

30.86%

29.68%

+1.18%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

37.08%

35.62%

+1.46%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

27.55%

33.06%

-5.51%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

26.56%

32.66%

-6.10%

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

Both XMA.TO and XBM.TO have an expense ratio of 0.60%.

Dividends

XMA.TO vs. XBM.TO - Dividend Comparison

XMA.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.37%, less than XBM.TO's 0.62% 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%
XMA.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF		0.37%0.41%0.83%1.26%1.24%0.87%0.63%0.62%0.72%0.42%0.82%1.90%

Frequently Asked Questions

XMA.TO and XBM.TO have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Both ETFs have the same 0.60% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XMA.TO and XBM.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.60% per year.

XMA.TO is categorized as Materials, while XBM.TO is Energy Equities. XMA.TO tracks S&P/TSX Capped Materials TR, while XBM.TO tracks Morningstar Can Natural Resource NR CAD.

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