ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZDY.TO (BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD)) and CDIV.TO (Manulife Smart Dividend ETF) are both Dividend funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, ZDY.TO returned 13.55%/yr vs 13.50%/yr for CDIV.TO. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ZDY.TO charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.28%/yr for CDIV.TO.

Performance

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD) (ZDY.TO) and Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZDY.TO achieves a 18.13% return, which is significantly higher than CDIV.TO's 14.31% return.

ZDY.TO

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: 9.13%
• YTD: 18.13%
• 6M: 10.45%
• 1Y: 26.90%
• 3Y*: 18.28%
• 5Y*: 13.55%
• 10Y*: 11.07%

CDIV.TO

• 1D: -0.55%
• 1M: 3.71%
• YTD: 14.31%
• 6M: 10.66%
• 1Y: 31.29%
• 3Y*: 20.24%
• 5Y*: 13.50%
• 10Y*: —

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

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
ZDY.TO BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD)	18.13%	4.45%	26.22%	4.58%	1.64%	22.92%	-0.41%
CDIV.TO Manulife Smart Dividend ETF	14.31%	25.88%	15.23%	11.77%	-2.50%	26.20%	2.07%

Correlation

The correlation between ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO is 0.58, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.58
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.54
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.53
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 26, 2020	0.51

The correlation between ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.51 to 0.58 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZDY.TO

ZDY.TO Risk / Return Rank: 71
ZDY.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
ZDY.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 62
ZDY.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 72
ZDY.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 78
ZDY.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 73

CDIV.TO

CDIV.TO Risk / Return Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
CDIV.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 87
CDIV.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
CDIV.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 84

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.

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD) (ZDY.TO) and Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.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.

	ZDY.TO	CDIV.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.28	2.61	-0.32
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.97	3.21	-0.25
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.44	1.53	-0.09
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.98	4.20	-0.22
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.78	17.38	-3.60
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZDY.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.28, which is comparable to the CDIV.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.61. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZDY.TO and CDIV.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

	ZDY.TO	CDIV.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.28	2.61	-0.32
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.12	1.13	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.73	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.95	1.40	-0.44

Drawdowns

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZDY.TO drawdown since its inception was -33.01%, which is greater than CDIV.TO's maximum drawdown of -16.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZDY.TO	CDIV.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.01%	-16.44%	-16.57%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.78%	-7.48%	+0.70%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.32%	-9.64%	-5.68%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.32%	-16.44%	+1.12%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.01%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.19%	-0.55%	+0.36%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.30%	-2.83%	-0.47%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.96%	1.81%	+0.15%

Volatility

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Volatility Comparison

BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD) (ZDY.TO) has a higher volatility of 4.73% compared to Manulife Smart Dividend ETF (CDIV.TO) at 2.82%. This indicates that ZDY.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than CDIV.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZDY.TO	CDIV.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.73%	2.82%	+1.91%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.85%	10.70%	-0.85%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.85%	12.05%	-0.20%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.17%	12.05%	+0.12%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.18%	11.90%	+3.28%

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZDY.TO has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than CDIV.TO's 0.28% expense ratio.

Dividends

ZDY.TO vs. CDIV.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZDY.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.46%, less than CDIV.TO's 2.28% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CDIV.TO Manulife Smart Dividend ETF	2.28%	3.02%	3.41%	3.45%	3.41%	2.38%	0.07%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ZDY.TO BMO US Dividend ETF (CAD)	1.46%	1.72%	1.97%	2.43%	2.48%	2.33%	3.65%	3.02%	2.80%	2.63%	2.46%	2.54%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO in my portfolio?

ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ZDY.TO or CDIV.TO?

On fees, CDIV.TO is cheaper at 0.28% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ZDY.TO or CDIV.TO?

CDIV.TO is cheaper with a 0.28% expense ratio, compared with 0.30% for ZDY.TO.

What is the main difference between ZDY.TO and CDIV.TO?

They also come from different issuers: BMO and Manulife. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for ZDY.TO and 0.28% for CDIV.TO.