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XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XMU.TO (iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF) and XAW.TO (iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XMU.TO is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index, while XAW.TO is a Global Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XMU.TO returned 9.17%/yr vs 13.22%/yr for XAW.TO. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XMU.TO charges 0.33%/yr vs 0.22%/yr for XAW.TO.

Performance

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF (XMU.TO) and iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW.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, XMU.TO achieves a 3.85% return, which is significantly lower than XAW.TO's 13.70% return. Over the past 10 years, XMU.TO has underperformed XAW.TO with an annualized return of 9.17%, while XAW.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 13.22% annualized return.

XMU.TO

1D
-0.09%
1M
4.37%
YTD
3.85%
6M
-1.16%
1Y
1.98%
3Y*
10.21%
5Y*
8.15%
10Y*
9.17%

XAW.TO

1D
-0.37%
1M
7.13%
YTD
13.70%
6M
12.70%
1Y
30.51%
3Y*
21.73%
5Y*
13.96%
10Y*
13.22%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
XMU.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF		3.85%-0.84%21.99%6.59%-3.64%16.99%2.99%20.78%9.07%10.80%
XAW.TO
iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF		13.70%15.87%26.31%18.45%-11.84%18.38%12.37%19.82%-2.28%16.10%

Correlation

The correlation between XMU.TO and XAW.TO is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.45

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

0.52

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

0.61

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

0.66

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 18, 2015

0.67

Over the past year, the correlation between XMU.TO and XAW.TO has dropped to 0.45 - well below their long-term average of 0.67, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XMU.TO
XAW.TO

Technology

31.2%
32.6%

Financial Services

13.7%
13.7%

Healthcare

12.6%
7.8%

Consumer Defensive

9.9%
4.6%

Utilities

7.4%
2.2%

Communication Services

5.9%
8.7%

Consumer Cyclical

5.7%
8.8%

Industrials

5.6%
9.1%

Energy

3.7%
3.3%

Real Estate

2.2%
1.4%

Basic Materials

2.1%
2.8%

Technology

XMU.TO
31.2%
XAW.TO
32.6%

Financial Services

XMU.TO
13.7%
XAW.TO
13.7%

Healthcare

XMU.TO
12.6%
XAW.TO
7.8%

Consumer Defensive

XMU.TO
9.9%
XAW.TO
4.6%

Utilities

XMU.TO
7.4%
XAW.TO
2.2%

Communication Services

XMU.TO
5.9%
XAW.TO
8.7%

Consumer Cyclical

XMU.TO
5.7%
XAW.TO
8.8%

Industrials

XMU.TO
5.6%
XAW.TO
9.1%

Energy

XMU.TO
3.7%
XAW.TO
3.3%

Real Estate

XMU.TO
2.2%
XAW.TO
1.4%

Basic Materials

XMU.TO
2.1%
XAW.TO
2.8%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF

iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF

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Often compared with XAW.TO:
XAW.TO vs. XEQT.TOXAW.TO vs. VXC.TOXAW.TO vs. VEQT.TOXAW.TO vs. XUU.TOXAW.TO vs. XIC.TOXAW.TO vs. XGRO.TOXAW.TO vs. VT

Return for Risk

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XMU.TO
XMU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 1111
Overall Rank
XMU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1111
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XMU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 1010
Sortino Ratio Rank
XMU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 1111
Omega Ratio Rank
XMU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 1212
Calmar Ratio Rank
XMU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 1111
Martin Ratio Rank
XAW.TO
XAW.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7676
Overall Rank
XAW.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7575
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XAW.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7676
Sortino Ratio Rank
XAW.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7878
Omega Ratio Rank
XAW.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7474
Calmar Ratio Rank
XAW.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 7777
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.

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF (XMU.TO) and iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW.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.

XMU.TOXAW.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.22
2.50

-2.29

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
0.35
3.49

-3.13

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.04

1.48

-0.43

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.26

3.76

-3.50

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

0.56

15.15

-14.60

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

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XMU.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.22, which is lower than the XAW.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.50. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XMU.TO and XAW.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

XMU.TOXAW.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.22

2.50

-2.29

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.73

1.04

-0.30

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.66

0.88

-0.22

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.98

0.78

+0.20

Drawdowns

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XMU.TO drawdown since its inception was -27.31%, roughly equal to the maximum XAW.TO drawdown of -27.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XMU.TO and XAW.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XMU.TOXAW.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-27.31%

-27.32%

+0.01%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.71%

-8.16%

+0.45%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-10.98%

-16.66%

+5.68%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-18.16%

-21.02%

+2.86%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-27.31%

-27.32%

+0.01%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.95%

-0.37%

-3.58%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.44%

-3.91%

+0.47%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.57%

2.02%

+1.55%

Volatility

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF (XMU.TO) is 2.18%, while iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW.TO) has a volatility of 4.21%. This indicates that XMU.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XAW.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XMU.TOXAW.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.18%

4.21%

-2.03%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

6.86%

9.85%

-2.99%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

9.20%

12.25%

-3.05%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

11.15%

13.56%

-2.41%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

13.97%

15.12%

-1.15%

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XMU.TO has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is higher than XAW.TO's 0.22% expense ratio.

Dividends

XMU.TO vs. XAW.TO - Dividend Comparison

XMU.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.12%, less than XAW.TO's 1.17% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XAW.TO
iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF		1.17%1.33%1.61%1.71%1.79%1.77%1.49%2.02%2.29%1.92%1.80%1.83%
XMU.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF		1.12%1.10%1.14%1.33%1.10%1.00%1.59%1.36%1.39%1.51%1.73%1.35%

Frequently Asked Questions

XMU.TO and XAW.TO have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XAW.TO is cheaper at 0.22% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XAW.TO is cheaper with a 0.22% expense ratio, compared with 0.33% for XMU.TO.

XMU.TO is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while XAW.TO is Global Equities. XMU.TO tracks MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index, while XAW.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl GR CAD. Their fees differ too: 0.33% for XMU.TO and 0.22% for XAW.TO.

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