XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO
XRB.TO (iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF) and ZCS.TO (BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XRB.TO is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada Real Return Bond Index, while ZCS.TO is a Canadian Government Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada Short Term Corporate Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XRB.TO returned 0.06%/yr vs 2.79%/yr for ZCS.TO. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XRB.TO charges 0.39%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for ZCS.TO.
Performance
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XRB.TO achieves a 2.56% return, which is significantly higher than ZCS.TO's 1.29% return. Over the past 10 years, XRB.TO has underperformed ZCS.TO with an annualized return of 0.06%, while ZCS.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 2.79% annualized return.
XRB.TO
- 1D
- -0.13%
- 1M
- 1.21%
- YTD
- 2.56%
- 6M
- 0.86%
- 1Y
- 3.06%
- 3Y*
- 1.50%
- 5Y*
- -1.66%
- 10Y*
- 0.06%
ZCS.TO
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- 1.02%
- YTD
- 1.29%
- 6M
- 1.26%
- 1Y
- 3.96%
- 3Y*
- 5.98%
- 5Y*
- 2.85%
- 10Y*
- 2.79%
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XRB.TO iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF | 2.56% | 0.05% | 3.95% | -2.15% | -15.01% | -1.30% | 12.11% | 5.93% | -1.23% | -0.11% |
ZCS.TO BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF | 1.29% | 4.41% | 7.42% | 6.67% | -4.48% | -0.76% | 6.10% | 5.01% | 1.23% | 1.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between XRB.TO and ZCS.TO is 0.63, 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 | 0.63 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.56 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 27, 2009 | 0.41 |
Over the past year, XRB.TO and ZCS.TO have become more correlated (0.63) than their long-term average of 0.41, meaning their price movements have been converging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO — Risk / Return Rank
XRB.TO
ZCS.TO
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF (XRB.TO) and BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCS.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.
| XRB.TO | ZCS.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.50 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.08 | 1.41 | -0.33 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.87 | 2.44 | -1.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.73 | 9.64 | -7.92 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| XRB.TO | ZCS.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.45 | 1.95 | -1.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.14 | 1.00 | -1.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 | 0.64 | -0.64 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.27 | 0.80 | -0.53 |
Drawdowns
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XRB.TO drawdown since its inception was -26.58%, which is greater than ZCS.TO's maximum drawdown of -13.95%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XRB.TO and ZCS.TO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| XRB.TO | ZCS.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.58% | -13.95% | -12.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.55% | -1.63% | -1.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -10.65% | -1.63% | -9.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -7.76% | -18.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -26.58% | -13.95% | -12.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.56% | -0.04% | -13.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.09% | -0.89% | -6.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.78% | 0.41% | +1.37% |
Volatility
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Volatility Comparison
iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF (XRB.TO) has a higher volatility of 2.72% compared to BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCS.TO) at 0.69%. This indicates that XRB.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZCS.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| XRB.TO | ZCS.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.72% | 0.69% | +2.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.11% | 1.79% | +3.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 6.85% | 2.05% | +4.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.91% | 2.87% | +9.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.35% | 4.38% | +6.97% |
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
XRB.TO has a 0.39% expense ratio, which is higher than ZCS.TO's 0.11% expense ratio.
Dividends
XRB.TO vs. ZCS.TO - Dividend Comparison
XRB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.63%, less than ZCS.TO's 3.93% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XRB.TO iShares Canadian Real Return Bond Index ETF | 3.63% | 3.73% | 2.36% | 2.36% | 1.83% | 1.23% | 1.36% | 1.72% | 1.74% | 1.69% | 1.58% | 1.61% |
ZCS.TO BMO Short Corporate Bond Index ETF | 3.93% | 3.60% | 3.27% | 3.35% | 3.23% | 2.99% | 2.88% | 2.96% | 2.88% | 3.04% | 3.34% | 3.53% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XRB.TO and ZCS.TO have a correlation of 0.63, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, ZCS.TO is cheaper at 0.11% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
ZCS.TO is cheaper with a 0.11% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for XRB.TO.
XRB.TO is categorized as Inflation-Protected Bonds, while ZCS.TO is Canadian Government Bonds. XRB.TO tracks FTSE Canada Real Return Bond Index, while ZCS.TO tracks FTSE Canada Short Term Corporate Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and BMO. Their fees differ too: 0.39% for XRB.TO and 0.11% for ZCS.TO.
Find the right allocation for XRB.TO and ZCS.TO
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer