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ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

ZEM.TO (BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF) and XUU.TO (iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZEM.TO is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, while XUU.TO is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P Total Market Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ZEM.TO returned 11.29%/yr vs 15.61%/yr for XUU.TO. A 0.55 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ZEM.TO charges 0.27%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for XUU.TO.

Performance

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO) and iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (XUU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZEM.TO achieves a 26.25% return, which is significantly higher than XUU.TO's 11.45% return. Over the past 10 years, ZEM.TO has underperformed XUU.TO with an annualized return of 11.29%, while XUU.TO has yielded a comparatively higher 15.61% annualized return.

ZEM.TO

1D
0.18%
1M
2.76%
YTD
26.25%
6M
28.54%
1Y
52.38%
3Y*
23.59%
5Y*
9.65%
10Y*
11.29%

XUU.TO

1D
0.63%
1M
1.53%
YTD
11.45%
6M
11.22%
1Y
29.10%
3Y*
22.22%
5Y*
15.33%
10Y*
15.61%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		26.25%27.66%15.21%7.38%-15.80%-2.64%16.38%13.23%-8.06%30.19%
XUU.TO
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF		11.45%11.25%34.07%23.11%-13.53%25.94%16.26%23.78%2.43%12.80%

Correlation

The correlation between ZEM.TO and XUU.TO is 0.67, 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

0.67

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.56

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.53

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.55

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 18, 2015

0.55

The correlation between ZEM.TO and XUU.TO shifts across timeframes, from 0.53 (5 years) to 0.67 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
ZEM.TO
XUU.TO

Technology

36.7%
37.3%

Financial Services

20.1%
11.2%

Consumer Cyclical

9.7%
9.8%

Industrials

7.7%
8.8%

Communication Services

6.8%
9.8%

Basic Materials

6.3%
1.9%

Energy

4.1%
3.4%

Consumer Defensive

3.1%
4.4%

Healthcare

2.8%
8.4%

Utilities

2.0%
2.5%

Real Estate

0.8%
2.2%

Technology

ZEM.TO
36.7%
XUU.TO
37.3%

Financial Services

ZEM.TO
20.1%
XUU.TO
11.2%

Consumer Cyclical

ZEM.TO
9.7%
XUU.TO
9.8%

Industrials

ZEM.TO
7.7%
XUU.TO
8.8%

Communication Services

ZEM.TO
6.8%
XUU.TO
9.8%

Basic Materials

ZEM.TO
6.3%
XUU.TO
1.9%

Energy

ZEM.TO
4.1%
XUU.TO
3.4%

Consumer Defensive

ZEM.TO
3.1%
XUU.TO
4.4%

Healthcare

ZEM.TO
2.8%
XUU.TO
8.4%

Utilities

ZEM.TO
2.0%
XUU.TO
2.5%

Real Estate

ZEM.TO
0.8%
XUU.TO
2.2%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF

iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF

Often compared with ZEM.TO:
ZEM.TO vs. XEC.TOZEM.TO vs. VEE.TOZEM.TO vs. XEF.TOZEM.TO vs. VIU.TOZEM.TO vs. XSEM.TOZEM.TO vs. xec.TOZEM.TO vs. ZCN.TO
Often compared with XUU.TO:
XUU.TO vs. XUS.TOXUU.TO vs. VUN.TOXUU.TO vs. XAW.TOXUU.TO vs. XUU-U.TOXUU.TO vs. XIC.TOXUU.TO vs. VTIXUU.TO vs. VOO

Return for Risk

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
ZEM.TO
ZEM.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8383
Overall Rank
ZEM.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8080
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7878
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8686
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZEM.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8484
Martin Ratio Rank
XUU.TO
XUU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7676
Overall Rank
XUU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8080
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XUU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7878
Sortino Ratio Rank
XUU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8080
Omega Ratio Rank
XUU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7171
Calmar Ratio Rank
XUU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 7373
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO) and iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (XUU.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.

ZEM.TOXUU.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.24
2.22

+0.02

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.01
3.00

+0.01

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.44

1.41

+0.03

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

4.28

3.13

+1.14

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

15.06

11.81

+3.25

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZEM.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.24, which is comparable to the XUU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.22. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZEM.TO and XUU.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.

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Drawdowns

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZEM.TO drawdown since its inception was -34.79%, which is greater than XUU.TO's maximum drawdown of -28.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZEM.TO and XUU.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

ZEM.TOXUU.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-34.79%

-28.22%

-6.57%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.64%

-8.80%

-2.84%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-13.59%

-19.70%

+6.11%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-30.69%

-23.40%

-7.29%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.79%

-28.22%

-6.57%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.84%

-1.41%

-1.43%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-10.16%

-4.15%

-6.01%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.30%

2.33%

+0.97%

Volatility

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Volatility Comparison

BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (ZEM.TO) has a higher volatility of 10.20% compared to iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (XUU.TO) at 4.57%. This indicates that ZEM.TO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XUU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

ZEM.TOXUU.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

10.20%

4.57%

+5.63%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

20.37%

9.69%

+10.68%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

22.28%

12.42%

+9.86%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.50%

15.50%

+2.00%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.67%

16.61%

+2.06%

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZEM.TO has a 0.27% expense ratio, which is higher than XUU.TO's 0.07% 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

ZEM.TO vs. XUU.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZEM.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.77%, more than XUU.TO's 1.02% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XUU.TO
iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF		1.02%1.16%1.02%1.22%1.38%1.01%1.33%1.68%1.74%1.49%1.65%1.53%
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		1.77%2.23%2.56%2.87%2.89%2.50%1.69%2.42%2.20%1.76%1.85%2.45%

Frequently Asked Questions

ZEM.TO and XUU.TO have a correlation of 0.67, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XUU.TO is cheaper at 0.07% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XUU.TO is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.27% for ZEM.TO.

ZEM.TO is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while XUU.TO is Large Cap Blend Equities. ZEM.TO tracks MSCI Emerging Markets Index, while XUU.TO tracks S&P Total Market Index. They also come from different issuers: BMO and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.27% for ZEM.TO and 0.07% for XUU.TO.

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