XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO
XSTB.TO (iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF) and XEF.TO (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XSTB.TO is a Canadian Government Bonds fund tracking the Morningstar Can 1-5Y Core Bd GR CAD, while XEF.TO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XSTB.TO returned 1.93%/yr vs 10.89%/yr for XEF.TO. At a 0.19 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XSTB.TO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.23%/yr for XEF.TO.
Performance
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XSTB.TO achieves a 0.89% return, which is significantly lower than XEF.TO's 9.95% return.
XSTB.TO
- 1D
- -0.08%
- 1M
- 0.80%
- YTD
- 0.89%
- 6M
- 0.62%
- 1Y
- 2.70%
- 3Y*
- 4.44%
- 5Y*
- 1.93%
- 10Y*
- —
XEF.TO
- 1D
- -0.41%
- 1M
- 5.38%
- YTD
- 9.95%
- 6M
- 10.72%
- 1Y
- 23.12%
- 3Y*
- 17.83%
- 5Y*
- 10.89%
- 10Y*
- 9.77%
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XSTB.TO iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 0.89% | 3.60% | 5.28% | 4.86% | -3.91% | -1.12% | 4.95% | 1.18% |
XEF.TO iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF | 9.95% | 25.69% | 12.04% | 15.21% | -9.53% | 10.36% | 6.13% | 6.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between XSTB.TO and XEF.TO is 0.42, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 11, 2019 | 0.19 |
Over the past year, XSTB.TO and XEF.TO have become more correlated (0.42) than their long-term average of 0.19, 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
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO — Risk / Return Rank
XSTB.TO
XEF.TO
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSTB.TO) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.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.
| XSTB.TO | XEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.22 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.31 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.01 | 2.06 | -0.05 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.08 | 8.22 | -2.14 |
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
| XSTB.TO | XEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46 | 1.68 | -0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 | 0.81 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.66 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.79 | 0.71 | +0.09 |
Drawdowns
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XSTB.TO drawdown since its inception was -6.92%, smaller than the maximum XEF.TO drawdown of -28.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XSTB.TO and XEF.TO.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| XSTB.TO | XEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -6.92% | -28.51% | +21.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -1.35% | -11.27% | +9.92% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -1.35% | -14.32% | +12.97% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -6.76% | -24.58% | +17.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -28.51% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.24% | -1.09% | +0.85% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -1.42% | -4.62% | +3.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.45% | 2.82% | -2.37% |
Volatility
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF (XSTB.TO) is 0.69%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) has a volatility of 4.77%. This indicates that XSTB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEF.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| XSTB.TO | XEF.TO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.69% | 4.77% | -4.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 1.51% | 11.56% | -10.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.86% | 13.85% | -11.99% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 2.53% | 13.58% | -11.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 2.72% | 14.85% | -12.13% |
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison
XSTB.TO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than XEF.TO's 0.23% 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
XSTB.TO vs. XEF.TO - Dividend Comparison
XSTB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.88%, more than XEF.TO's 2.21% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XEF.TO iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF | 2.21% | 2.43% | 2.76% | 2.75% | 2.93% | 2.42% | 1.93% | 2.72% | 2.76% | 2.10% | 2.42% | 2.42% |
XSTB.TO iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF | 2.88% | 2.88% | 2.64% | 2.22% | 1.93% | 1.82% | 2.10% | 1.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XSTB.TO and XEF.TO have a correlation of 0.42, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, XSTB.TO is cheaper at 0.17% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
XSTB.TO is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.23% for XEF.TO.
XSTB.TO is categorized as Canadian Government Bonds, while XEF.TO is Foreign Large Cap Equities. XSTB.TO tracks Morningstar Can 1-5Y Core Bd GR CAD, while XEF.TO tracks MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (CAD). Their fees differ too: 0.17% for XSTB.TO and 0.23% for XEF.TO.
Find the right allocation for XSTB.TO and XEF.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