ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZCB.TO (BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF) and ZBAL.TO (BMO Balanced ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZCB.TO is a Corporate Bonds fund tracking the FTSE Canada All Corporate Bond Index, while ZBAL.TO is a Global Allocation fund actively managed by BMO. ZCB.TO is passively managed, while ZBAL.TO is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, ZCB.TO returned 2.19%/yr vs 8.70%/yr for ZBAL.TO. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ZCB.TO charges 0.17%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for ZBAL.TO.

Performance

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.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 BMO Balanced ETF (ZBAL.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 1.93% return, which is significantly lower than ZBAL.TO's 8.07% return.

ZCB.TO

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 1.58%
• YTD: 1.93%
• 6M: 1.46%
• 1Y: 4.16%
• 3Y*: 6.00%
• 5Y*: 2.19%
• 10Y*: —

ZBAL.TO

• 1D: -0.44%
• 1M: 4.23%
• YTD: 8.07%
• 6M: 7.81%
• 1Y: 19.74%
• 3Y*: 14.66%
• 5Y*: 8.70%
• 10Y*: —

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

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	1.93%	3.81%	6.60%	8.73%	-10.20%	-2.22%	8.33%	6.08%
ZBAL.TO BMO Balanced ETF	8.07%	12.93%	16.16%	12.63%	-11.09%	10.41%	10.27%	9.73%

Correlation

The correlation between ZCB.TO and ZBAL.TO is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.44
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.43
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.35
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 19, 2019	0.27

The correlation between ZCB.TO and ZBAL.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.27 (all time) to 0.44 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	ZCB.TO	ZBAL.TO
Real Estate	0.1%	2.0%
Basic Materials	-	7.2%
Communication Services	-	6.7%
Consumer Cyclical	-	8.3%
Consumer Defensive	-	4.9%
Energy	-	8.0%
Financial Services	-	19.8%
Healthcare	-	6.9%
Industrials	-	11.2%
Technology	-	22.2%
Utilities	-	3.0%

Return for Risk

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.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: 31
ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
ZCB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
ZCB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 31
ZCB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
ZCB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 32

ZBAL.TO

ZBAL.TO Risk / Return Rank: 72
ZBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
ZBAL.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
ZBAL.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 74
ZBAL.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 68
ZBAL.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 75

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. ZBAL.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) and BMO Balanced ETF (ZBAL.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.

	ZCB.TO	ZBAL.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.12	2.37	-1.25
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.55	3.44	-1.88
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.21	1.45	-0.23
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.64	3.41	-1.77
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.82	14.34	-9.52
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

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

The current ZCB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.12, which is lower than the ZBAL.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZCB.TO and ZBAL.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

	ZCB.TO	ZBAL.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.12	2.37	-1.25
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43	1.01	-0.59
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.56	0.92	-0.36

Drawdowns

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZCB.TO drawdown since its inception was -15.70%, smaller than the maximum ZBAL.TO drawdown of -20.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZCB.TO and ZBAL.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZCB.TO	ZBAL.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.70%	-20.75%	+5.05%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-2.55%	-5.81%	+3.26%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-3.27%	-9.43%	+6.16%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-14.20%	-16.32%	+2.12%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.10%	-0.44%	+0.34%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.70%	-3.17%	-0.53%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.86%	1.38%	-0.52%

Volatility

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF (ZCB.TO) is 1.50%, while BMO Balanced ETF (ZBAL.TO) has a volatility of 3.09%. This indicates that ZCB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ZBAL.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZCB.TO	ZBAL.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	1.50%	3.09%	-1.59%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.00%	6.60%	-3.60%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.72%	8.38%	-4.66%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	5.17%	8.72%	-3.55%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	5.41%	10.14%	-4.73%

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

ZCB.TO has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than ZBAL.TO's 0.18% 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

ZCB.TO vs. ZBAL.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZCB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.03%, more than ZBAL.TO's 1.74% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
ZBAL.TO BMO Balanced ETF	1.74%	2.00%	2.20%	2.49%	2.74%	2.37%	2.55%	2.39%	0.00%
ZCB.TO BMO Corporate Bond Index ETF	4.03%	4.00%	3.84%	3.89%	3.62%	3.13%	2.97%	3.12%	3.27%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

ZCB.TO and ZBAL.TO have a correlation of 0.44, 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 ZBAL.TO?

On fees, ZCB.TO is cheaper at 0.17% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

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

ZCB.TO is cheaper with a 0.17% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for ZBAL.TO.

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

ZCB.TO is categorized as Corporate Bonds, while ZBAL.TO is Global Allocation. Their fees differ too: 0.17% for ZCB.TO and 0.18% for ZBAL.TO.