XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO
XSB.TO (iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF) and VSC.TO (Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF) are both Short-Term Bond funds - XSB.TO tracks the FTSE Canada Short Term Overall Bond Index while VSC.TO tracks the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian 1-5 Year Corporate Float Adjusted Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XSB.TO returned 2.01%/yr vs 2.79%/yr for VSC.TO. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XSB.TO charges 0.10%/yr vs 0.11%/yr for VSC.TO.
Performance
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XSB.TO achieves a 1.36% return, which is significantly lower than VSC.TO's 1.52% return. Over the past 10 years, XSB.TO has underperformed VSC.TO with an annualized return of 2.01%, while VSC.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 2.79% annualized return.
XSB.TO
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 0.52%
- YTD
- 1.36%
- 6M
- 1.33%
- 1Y
- 3.11%
- 3Y*
- 5.03%
- 5Y*
- 2.15%
- 10Y*
- 2.01%
VSC.TO
- 1D
- 0.25%
- 1M
- 0.55%
- YTD
- 1.52%
- 6M
- 1.51%
- 1Y
- 3.79%
- 3Y*
- 6.09%
- 5Y*
- 2.93%
- 10Y*
- 2.79%
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XSB.TO iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 1.36% | 3.70% | 5.87% | 4.67% | -4.04% | -1.11% | 5.20% | 3.20% | 1.60% | 0.13% |
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF | 1.52% | 4.63% | 6.69% | 6.75% | -4.23% | -0.97% | 6.27% | 4.72% | 1.19% | 0.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between XSB.TO and VSC.TO is 0.82, 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 | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.86 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 8, 2012 | 0.63 |
The correlation between XSB.TO and VSC.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.63 (all time) to 0.86 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO — Risk / Return Rank
XSB.TO
VSC.TO
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSB.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| XSB.TO | VSC.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.38 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.12 | 2.49 | -0.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.02 | 9.91 | -2.88 |
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Drawdowns
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XSB.TO drawdown since its inception was -8.65%, smaller than the maximum VSC.TO drawdown of -15.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XSB.TO and VSC.TO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XSB.TO | VSC.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -8.65% | -15.87% | +7.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.47% | -1.53% | +0.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.47% | -1.53% | +0.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.99% | -7.68% | +0.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -8.65% | -15.87% | +7.22% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.79% | -0.96% | +0.17% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.44% | 0.38% | +0.06% |
Volatility
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSB.TO) is 0.50%, while Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VSC.TO) has a volatility of 0.58%. This indicates that XSB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VSC.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XSB.TO | VSC.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.50% | 0.58% | -0.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.63% | 1.62% | +0.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.01% | 2.01% | 0.00% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.72% | 2.74% | -0.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 3.40% | 5.15% | -1.75% |
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
XSB.TO has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than VSC.TO's 0.11% 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
XSB.TO vs. VSC.TO - Dividend Comparison
XSB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.10%, less than VSC.TO's 3.68% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSC.TO Vanguard Canadian Short-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF | 3.68% | 3.61% | 3.54% | 3.14% | 2.85% | 2.59% | 2.64% | 2.71% | 2.77% | 2.75% | 2.89% | 3.05% |
XSB.TO iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 3.10% | 3.15% | 3.05% | 2.67% | 2.28% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 2.39% | 2.39% | 2.36% | 2.36% | 2.50% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XSB.TO and VSC.TO have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, XSB.TO is cheaper at 0.10% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XSB.TO is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.11% for VSC.TO.
XSB.TO tracks FTSE Canada Short Term Overall Bond Index, while VSC.TO tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian 1-5 Year Corporate Float Adjusted Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.10% for XSB.TO and 0.11% for VSC.TO.
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