ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZGLD.TO (BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units)) and XEG.TO (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZGLD.TO is a Gold fund tracking the Gold Bullion, while XEG.TO is a Energy Equities fund tracking the S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, ZGLD.TO returned 33.90% vs 70.40% for XEG.TO. At a 0.09 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ZGLD.TO charges 0.23%/yr vs 0.61%/yr for XEG.TO.

Performance

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units) (ZGLD.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (XEG.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZGLD.TO achieves a 4.35% return, which is significantly lower than XEG.TO's 44.34% return.

ZGLD.TO

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 0.41%
• YTD: 4.35%
• 6M: 5.03%
• 1Y: 33.90%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XEG.TO

• 1D: 1.17%
• 1M: -0.04%
• YTD: 44.34%
• 6M: 39.73%
• 1Y: 70.40%
• 3Y*: 28.08%
• 5Y*: 29.48%
• 10Y*: 11.85%

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

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
ZGLD.TO BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units)	4.35%	55.82%	28.23%
XEG.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF	44.34%	16.72%	3.39%

Correlation

The correlation between ZGLD.TO and XEG.TO is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.02
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 12, 2024	0.09

Return for Risk

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZGLD.TO

ZGLD.TO Risk / Return Rank: 36
ZGLD.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
ZGLD.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 33
ZGLD.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 41
ZGLD.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 40
ZGLD.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 32

XEG.TO

XEG.TO Risk / Return Rank: 86
XEG.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
XEG.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 80
XEG.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 80
XEG.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
XEG.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 87

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.

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units) (ZGLD.TO) and iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (XEG.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.

	ZGLD.TO	XEG.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.35	3.11	-1.76
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.79	3.66	-1.87
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.27	1.49	-0.22
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.98	6.36	-4.39
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.85	19.02	-14.17
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZGLD.TO Sharpe Ratio is 1.35, which is lower than the XEG.TO Sharpe Ratio of 3.11. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZGLD.TO and XEG.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

	ZGLD.TO	XEG.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.35	3.11	-1.76
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	1.04	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.36	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.91	0.28	+1.63

Drawdowns

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZGLD.TO drawdown since its inception was -17.23%, smaller than the maximum XEG.TO drawdown of -87.74%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZGLD.TO and XEG.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZGLD.TO	XEG.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-17.23%	-87.74%	+70.51%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-17.23%	-11.12%	-6.11%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-25.67%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-28.42%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-79.66%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-15.38%	-4.00%	-11.38%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.37%	-29.19%	+25.82%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.00%	3.71%	+3.29%

Volatility

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units) (ZGLD.TO) is 5.27%, while iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (XEG.TO) has a volatility of 9.31%. This indicates that ZGLD.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEG.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZGLD.TO	XEG.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.27%	9.31%	-4.04%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	21.46%	18.99%	+2.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	25.17%	22.76%	+2.41%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.58%	28.62%	-8.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.58%	33.41%	-12.83%

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZGLD.TO has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is lower than XEG.TO's 0.61% expense ratio.

Dividends

ZGLD.TO vs. XEG.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZGLD.TO has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XEG.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.65%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XEG.TO iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF	2.65%	3.63%	3.46%	4.26%	3.31%	1.64%	2.96%	2.70%	2.25%	1.41%	1.40%	3.58%
ZGLD.TO BMO Gold Bullion ETF (CAD Units)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZGLD.TO and XEG.TO in my portfolio?

ZGLD.TO and XEG.TO have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ZGLD.TO or XEG.TO?

On fees, ZGLD.TO is cheaper at 0.23% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ZGLD.TO or XEG.TO?

ZGLD.TO is cheaper with a 0.23% expense ratio, compared with 0.61% for XEG.TO.

What is the main difference between ZGLD.TO and XEG.TO?

ZGLD.TO is categorized as Gold, while XEG.TO is Energy Equities. ZGLD.TO tracks Gold Bullion, while XEG.TO tracks S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index. They also come from different issuers: BMO and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.23% for ZGLD.TO and 0.61% for XEG.TO.