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XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XMW.TO (iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF) and VBAL.TO (Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio) are both exchange-traded funds - XMW.TO is a Global Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while VBAL.TO is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard. XMW.TO is passively managed, while VBAL.TO is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XMW.TO returned 7.90%/yr vs 7.87%/yr for VBAL.TO. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XMW.TO charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.24%/yr for VBAL.TO.

Performance

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF (XMW.TO) and Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.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, XMW.TO achieves a 3.60% return, which is significantly lower than VBAL.TO's 8.13% return.

XMW.TO

1D
0.07%
1M
3.38%
YTD
3.60%
6M
2.07%
1Y
5.74%
3Y*
10.78%
5Y*
7.90%
10Y*
7.50%

VBAL.TO

1D
-0.30%
1M
4.26%
YTD
8.13%
6M
6.49%
1Y
18.31%
3Y*
13.79%
5Y*
7.87%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024202320222021202020192018
XMW.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF		3.60%5.84%20.05%4.68%-4.33%12.80%0.51%14.74%5.50%
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		8.13%11.88%14.56%12.43%-11.44%10.16%10.23%14.85%-2.87%

Correlation

The correlation between XMW.TO and VBAL.TO is 0.48, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

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

0.48

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

0.52

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

0.55

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

0.63

The correlation between XMW.TO and VBAL.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.48 (1 year) to 0.63 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XMW.TO
VBAL.TO

Technology

22.6%
20.4%

Financial Services

13.4%
20.6%

Healthcare

12.9%
6.7%

Communication Services

11.6%
6.1%

Consumer Defensive

10.1%
4.6%

Utilities

7.6%
2.8%

Industrials

7.5%
11.6%

Consumer Cyclical

5.1%
7.9%

Energy

2.9%
8.6%

Basic Materials

1.6%
8.5%

Real Estate

0.7%
2.3%

Technology

XMW.TO
22.6%
VBAL.TO
20.4%

Financial Services

XMW.TO
13.4%
VBAL.TO
20.6%

Healthcare

XMW.TO
12.9%
VBAL.TO
6.7%

Communication Services

XMW.TO
11.6%
VBAL.TO
6.1%

Consumer Defensive

XMW.TO
10.1%
VBAL.TO
4.6%

Utilities

XMW.TO
7.6%
VBAL.TO
2.8%

Industrials

XMW.TO
7.5%
VBAL.TO
11.6%

Consumer Cyclical

XMW.TO
5.1%
VBAL.TO
7.9%

Energy

XMW.TO
2.9%
VBAL.TO
8.6%

Basic Materials

XMW.TO
1.6%
VBAL.TO
8.5%

Real Estate

XMW.TO
0.7%
VBAL.TO
2.3%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF

Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio

Often compared with XMW.TO:
XMW.TO vs. ZLB.TOXMW.TO vs. ACWVXMW.TO vs. XMV.TOXMW.TO vs. XEF.TOXMW.TO vs. XEQT.TOXMW.TO vs. XDIV.TOXMW.TO vs. VXC.TO
Often compared with VBAL.TO:
VBAL.TO vs. VGRO.TOVBAL.TO vs. XBAL.TOVBAL.TO vs. VEQT.TOVBAL.TO vs. XEQT.TOVBAL.TO vs. VCNS.TOVBAL.TO vs. VOOVBAL.TO vs. VT

Return for Risk

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XMW.TO
XMW.TO Risk / Return Rank: 2222
Overall Rank
XMW.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2121
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XMW.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 2020
Sortino Ratio Rank
XMW.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 2020
Omega Ratio Rank
XMW.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 2424
Calmar Ratio Rank
XMW.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 2424
Martin Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO
VBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7171
Omega Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6161
Calmar Ratio Rank
VBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 6969
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.

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF (XMW.TO) and Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.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.

XMW.TOVBAL.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.75
2.30

-1.55

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.10
3.30

-2.20

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.14

1.44

-0.30

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.12

3.10

-1.98

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

3.08

13.17

-10.09

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

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XMW.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.75, which is lower than the VBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XMW.TO and VBAL.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

XMW.TOVBAL.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.75

2.30

-1.55

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.91

0.92

0.00

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.68

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.94

0.78

+0.17

Drawdowns

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XMW.TO drawdown since its inception was -21.42%, roughly equal to the maximum VBAL.TO drawdown of -21.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XMW.TO and VBAL.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

XMW.TOVBAL.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-21.42%

-21.19%

-0.23%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-5.14%

-5.93%

+0.79%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-8.59%

-9.68%

+1.09%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-14.45%

-16.45%

+2.00%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-21.42%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.58%

-0.30%

-0.28%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-2.74%

-3.17%

+0.43%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.87%

1.39%

+0.48%

Volatility

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF (XMW.TO) is 1.87%, while Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio (VBAL.TO) has a volatility of 2.73%. This indicates that XMW.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VBAL.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

XMW.TOVBAL.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

1.87%

2.73%

-0.86%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

5.59%

6.59%

-1.00%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

7.67%

7.99%

-0.32%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

8.70%

8.63%

+0.07%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

11.07%

10.09%

+0.98%

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

XMW.TO has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is higher than VBAL.TO's 0.24% expense ratio.

Dividends

XMW.TO vs. VBAL.TO - Dividend Comparison

XMW.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.52%, less than VBAL.TO's 2.05% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VBAL.TO
Vanguard Balanced ETF Portfolio		2.05%2.21%2.26%2.32%2.16%1.91%1.79%2.20%1.99%0.00%0.00%0.00%
XMW.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF		1.52%1.58%1.81%1.98%1.66%1.43%1.52%2.20%2.01%1.61%2.02%1.85%

Frequently Asked Questions

XMW.TO and VBAL.TO have a correlation of 0.48, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, VBAL.TO is cheaper at 0.24% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

VBAL.TO is cheaper with a 0.24% expense ratio, compared with 0.48% for XMW.TO.

XMW.TO is categorized as Global Equities, while VBAL.TO is Diversified Portfolio. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for XMW.TO and 0.24% for VBAL.TO.

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