XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO
XSAB.TO (iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) and XLB.TO (iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF) are both Canadian Government Bonds funds from iShares - XSAB.TO tracks the Morningstar Can Core Bd GR CAD while XLB.TO tracks the Morningstar Can 10+Y Core Bd GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XSAB.TO returned 0.61%/yr vs 4.59%/yr for XLB.TO. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XSAB.TO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for XLB.TO.
Performance
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XSAB.TO achieves a 1.61% return, which is significantly lower than XLB.TO's 2.55% return.
XSAB.TO
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 1.57%
- YTD
- 1.61%
- 6M
- 1.04%
- 1Y
- 2.74%
- 3Y*
- 4.06%
- 5Y*
- 0.61%
- 10Y*
- —
XLB.TO
- 1D
- -0.21%
- 1M
- 2.58%
- YTD
- 2.55%
- 6M
- 1.31%
- 1Y
- 2.19%
- 3Y*
- 8.29%
- 5Y*
- 4.59%
- 10Y*
- 4.59%
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XSAB.TO iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | 1.61% | 2.22% | 4.03% | 6.35% | -11.42% | -2.71% | 7.79% | 2.30% |
XLB.TO iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF | 2.55% | -0.76% | 9.49% | 19.21% | -14.38% | 1.26% | 16.52% | 5.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between XSAB.TO and XLB.TO is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 29, 2019 | 0.77 |
The correlation between XSAB.TO and XLB.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.77 (all time) to 0.92 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO — Risk / Return Rank
XSAB.TO
XLB.TO
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (XSAB.TO) and iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF (XLB.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.
| XSAB.TO | XLB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.38 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.05 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.01 | 0.45 | +0.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.36 | 0.85 | +1.50 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| XSAB.TO | XLB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.66 | 0.28 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.10 | 0.36 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.39 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.19 | 0.55 | -0.36 |
Drawdowns
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XSAB.TO drawdown since its inception was -17.96%, smaller than the maximum XLB.TO drawdown of -24.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XSAB.TO and XLB.TO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XSAB.TO | XLB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.96% | -24.34% | +6.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.72% | -4.85% | +2.13% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -5.30% | -9.74% | +4.44% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.66% | -24.34% | +8.68% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -24.34% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.87% | -2.38% | +0.51% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.47% | -4.05% | -2.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.17% | 2.57% | -1.40% |
Volatility
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (XSAB.TO) is 1.49%, while iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF (XLB.TO) has a volatility of 2.79%. This indicates that XSAB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XLB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XSAB.TO | XLB.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.49% | 2.79% | -1.30% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.30% | 5.77% | -2.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.21% | 7.92% | -3.71% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 6.32% | 12.67% | -6.35% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.66% | 11.85% | -5.19% |
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
XSAB.TO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than XLB.TO's 0.20% 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
XSAB.TO vs. XLB.TO - Dividend Comparison
XSAB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.26%, less than XLB.TO's 4.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB.TO iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF | 4.01% | 4.05% | 12.10% | 12.22% | 13.13% | 8.82% | 7.43% | 3.18% | 3.56% | 3.45% | 3.62% | 3.64% |
XSAB.TO iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | 3.26% | 3.20% | 3.01% | 2.81% | 2.75% | 2.35% | 2.49% | 2.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, XSAB.TO and XLB.TO move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
On fees, XSAB.TO is cheaper at 0.17% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XSAB.TO is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for XLB.TO.
XSAB.TO tracks Morningstar Can Core Bd GR CAD, while XLB.TO tracks Morningstar Can 10+Y Core Bd GR CAD. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for XSAB.TO and 0.20% for XLB.TO.
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