XST.TO vs. QMAX.TO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XST.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF) and QMAX.TO (Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XST.TO is a Consumer Staples Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Gbl GR CAD, while QMAX.TO is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by Hamilton Capital. XST.TO is passively managed, while QMAX.TO is actively managed. Over the past year, XST.TO returned 7.32% vs 42.35% for QMAX.TO. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XST.TO charges 0.61%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for QMAX.TO.

Performance

XST.TO vs. QMAX.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 Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.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 1.77% return, which is significantly lower than QMAX.TO's 20.31% return.

XST.TO

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: 1.37%
• YTD: 1.77%
• 6M: 0.81%
• 1Y: 7.32%
• 3Y*: 13.98%
• 5Y*: 12.73%
• 10Y*: 9.62%

QMAX.TO

• 1D: -1.43%
• 1M: 13.37%
• YTD: 20.31%
• 6M: 17.49%
• 1Y: 42.35%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	1.77%	16.38%	19.83%	6.23%
QMAX.TO Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	20.31%	16.57%	37.65%	16.15%

Correlation

The correlation between XST.TO and QMAX.TO is -0.05, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.05
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 27, 2023	0.11

The correlation between XST.TO and QMAX.TO shifts across timeframes, from -0.05 (1 year) to 0.11 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

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

Sectors	XST.TO	QMAX.TO
Consumer Defensive	74.9%	-
Consumer Cyclical	25.1%	12.5%
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	18.3%
Energy	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	69.2%
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

XST.TO vs. QMAX.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: 17
XST.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 16
XST.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 16
XST.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 16
XST.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
XST.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 17

QMAX.TO

QMAX.TO Risk / Return Rank: 51
QMAX.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
QMAX.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 59
QMAX.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 61
QMAX.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
QMAX.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 34

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. QMAX.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 Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.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.

	XST.TO	QMAX.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.46	2.07	-1.61
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.75	2.75	-1.99
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.09	1.36	-0.27
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.70	1.86	-1.16
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.65	5.08	-3.43
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

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

The current XST.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.46, which is lower than the QMAX.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.07. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XST.TO and QMAX.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XST.TO	QMAX.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.46	2.07	-1.61
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.90	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.65	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.99	1.54	-0.56

Drawdowns

XST.TO vs. QMAX.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XST.TO drawdown since its inception was -22.65%, smaller than the maximum QMAX.TO drawdown of -26.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XST.TO and QMAX.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	XST.TO	QMAX.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-22.65%	-26.77%	+4.12%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.52%	-22.86%	+12.34%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-10.86%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.86%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-22.65%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.39%	-1.43%	-4.96%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.21%	-5.24%	+2.03%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.44%	8.37%	-3.93%

Volatility

XST.TO vs. QMAX.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF (XST.TO) is 4.72%, while Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF (QMAX.TO) has a volatility of 6.68%. This indicates that XST.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QMAX.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XST.TO	QMAX.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.72%	6.68%	-1.96%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.99%	16.41%	-4.42%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.12%	20.57%	-4.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.22%	23.66%	-9.44%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.95%	23.66%	-8.71%

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

XST.TO has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is lower than QMAX.TO's 0.65% expense ratio.

Dividends

XST.TO vs. QMAX.TO - Dividend Comparison

XST.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.68%, less than QMAX.TO's 9.47% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QMAX.TO Hamilton Technology YIELD MAXIMIZER ETF	9.47%	10.79%	10.90%	2.01%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XST.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF	0.68%	0.67%	0.86%	0.79%	0.74%	0.68%	0.74%	0.73%	0.81%	0.90%	0.52%	0.62%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

XST.TO and QMAX.TO have a correlation of -0.05, 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 QMAX.TO?

On fees, XST.TO is cheaper at 0.61% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

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

XST.TO is cheaper with a 0.61% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for QMAX.TO.

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

XST.TO is categorized as Consumer Staples Equities, while QMAX.TO is Technology Equities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Hamilton Capital. Their fees differ too: 0.61% for XST.TO and 0.65% for QMAX.TO.