ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

ZCB.TO (BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF) and VAB.TO (Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZCB.TO is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, while VAB.TO is a Total Bond Market fund tracking the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ZCB.TO returned 2.19%/yr vs 0.68%/yr for VAB.TO. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ZCB.TO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for VAB.TO.

Performance

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZCB.TO achieves a 2.21% return, which is significantly higher than VAB.TO's 2.00% return.

ZCB.TO

• 1D: -0.13%
• 1M: 0.65%
• YTD: 2.21%
• 6M: 1.89%
• 1Y: 4.46%
• 3Y*: 6.17%
• 5Y*: 2.19%
• 10Y*: —

VAB.TO

• 1D: -0.17%
• 1M: 0.79%
• YTD: 2.00%
• 6M: 1.77%
• 1Y: 3.77%
• 3Y*: 4.34%
• 5Y*: 0.68%
• 10Y*: 1.51%

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

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	2.21%	3.81%	6.60%	8.73%	-10.20%	-2.22%	8.33%	8.03%	0.90%
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	2.00%	2.28%	3.98%	6.90%	-11.86%	-2.88%	8.27%	6.78%	1.50%

Correlation

The correlation between ZCB.TO and VAB.TO is 0.84, 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	0.84
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.83
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.78
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 16, 2018	0.68

The correlation between ZCB.TO and VAB.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.68 (all time) to 0.84 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZCB.TO

ZCB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 37
ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
ZCB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 34
ZCB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 38
ZCB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
ZCB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 37

VAB.TO

VAB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 26
VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
VAB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 23
VAB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 23
VAB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
VAB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 26

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.

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) and Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.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.

	ZCB.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.20	0.86	+0.34
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.69	1.19	+0.50
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.15	+0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.76	1.33	+0.42
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.21	3.16	+2.05

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.20, which is higher than the VAB.TO Sharpe Ratio of 0.86. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZCB.TO and VAB.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

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZCB.TO drawdown since its inception was -15.70%, smaller than the maximum VAB.TO drawdown of -18.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZCB.TO and VAB.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZCB.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.70%	-18.39%	+2.69%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.55%	-2.83%	+0.28%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.27%	-5.31%	+2.04%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.20%	-15.82%	+1.62%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-18.39%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.13%	-1.55%	+1.42%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.67%	-4.10%	+0.43%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.86%	1.20%	-0.34%

Volatility

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) is 0.92%, while Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VAB.TO) has a volatility of 1.09%. This indicates that ZCB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAB.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZCB.TO	VAB.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.92%	1.09%	-0.17%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	2.92%	3.36%	-0.44%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.74%	4.41%	-0.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	5.20%	6.58%	-1.38%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.41%	6.47%	-1.06%

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZCB.TO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is higher than VAB.TO's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

ZCB.TO vs. VAB.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZCB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.02%, more than VAB.TO's 3.31% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VAB.TO Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF	3.31%	3.33%	3.19%	2.95%	2.87%	2.48%	2.51%	2.65%	2.80%	2.77%	2.75%	2.79%
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	4.02%	4.00%	3.84%	3.89%	3.62%	3.13%	2.97%	3.12%	3.27%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZCB.TO and VAB.TO in my portfolio?

ZCB.TO and VAB.TO have a correlation of 0.84, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ZCB.TO or VAB.TO?

On fees, VAB.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ZCB.TO or VAB.TO?

VAB.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.17% for ZCB.TO.

What is the main difference between ZCB.TO and VAB.TO?

ZCB.TO is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while VAB.TO is Total Bond Market. ZCB.TO tracks FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, while VAB.TO tracks Bloomberg Global Aggregate Canadian Float Adjusted Bond Index. They also come from different issuers: BMO and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for ZCB.TO and 0.09% for VAB.TO.