XST.TO vs. CEW.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

XST.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF) and CEW.TO (iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XST.TO is a Consumer Staples Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while CEW.TO is a Financials Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl Fin Svc GR CAD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XST.TO returned 19.03%/yr vs 16.02%/yr for CEW.TO. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.61% expense ratio.

Performance

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO) and iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XST.TO achieves a 4.80% return, which is significantly lower than CEW.TO's 22.02% return. Over the past 10 years, XST.TO has outperformed CEW.TO with an annualized return of 19.03%, while CEW.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 16.02% annualized return.

XST.TO

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: 7.14%
• YTD: 4.80%
• 6M: 5.68%
• 1Y: 10.57%
• 3Y*: 47.03%
• 5Y*: 30.79%
• 10Y*: 19.03%

CEW.TO

• 1D: 1.03%
• 1M: 9.08%
• YTD: 22.02%
• 6M: 20.13%
• 1Y: 51.89%
• 3Y*: 31.90%
• 5Y*: 19.14%
• 10Y*: 16.02%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	4.80%	16.38%	140.92%	7.25%	9.63%	21.31%	4.28%	12.92%	2.53%	7.95%
CEW.TO iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF	22.02%	32.70%	29.62%	17.18%	-6.76%	29.51%	-0.38%	25.64%	-12.71%	12.06%

Correlation

The correlation between XST.TO and CEW.TO is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.17
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.31
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.32
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.29
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 24, 2012	0.29

The correlation between XST.TO and CEW.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.17 (1 year) to 0.32 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XST.TO	CEW.TO
Consumer Defensive	74.9%	-
Consumer Cyclical	25.1%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Energy	-	-
Financial Services	-	100.0%
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

XST.TO

XST.TO Risk / Return Rank: 22
XST.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 22
XST.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 21
XST.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 21
XST.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 24
XST.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 22

CEW.TO

CEW.TO Risk / Return Rank: 96
CEW.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 97
CEW.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
CEW.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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.

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO) and iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.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.

	XST.TO	CEW.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.65	4.44	-3.79
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.02	5.95	-4.93
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.13	1.82	-0.69
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.01	7.32	-6.31
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	2.37	27.01	-24.64

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XST.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.65, which is lower than the CEW.TO Sharpe Ratio of 4.44. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XST.TO and CEW.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.

Drawdowns

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XST.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.42%, smaller than the maximum CEW.TO drawdown of -53.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XST.TO and CEW.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XST.TO	CEW.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-25.42%	-53.50%	+28.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.52%	-7.13%	-3.39%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.86%	-12.72%	+1.86%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.86%	-22.41%	+11.55%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.42%	-43.66%	+18.24%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.60%	0.00%	-3.60%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.66%	-6.94%	+3.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.48%	1.93%	+2.55%

Volatility

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.89% compared to iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF (CEW.TO) at 3.79%. This indicates that XST.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CEW.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XST.TO	CEW.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.89%	3.79%	+1.10%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.47%	10.17%	+2.30%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.38%	11.74%	+4.64%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	47.19%	13.57%	+33.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	35.42%	17.06%	+18.36%

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both XST.TO and CEW.TO have an expense ratio of 0.61%.

Dividends

XST.TO vs. CEW.TO - Dividend Comparison

XST.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%, less than CEW.TO's 2.34% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CEW.TO iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF	2.34%	2.82%	3.41%	3.98%	3.95%	3.10%	3.83%	3.39%	3.13%	2.62%	2.70%	2.91%
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	0.66%	0.68%	0.87%	1.57%	1.48%	1.37%	1.48%	1.46%	1.62%	1.80%	1.03%	1.24%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XST.TO and CEW.TO in my portfolio?

XST.TO and CEW.TO have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XST.TO or CEW.TO?

Both ETFs have the same 0.61% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XST.TO or CEW.TO?

XST.TO and CEW.TO have the same expense ratio: 0.61% per year.

What is the main difference between XST.TO and CEW.TO?

XST.TO is categorized as Consumer Staples Equities, while CEW.TO is Financials Equities. XST.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while CEW.TO tracks Morningstar Gbl Fin Svc GR CAD.