PortfoliosLab logoPortfoliosLab logo

Documentation

Upgrade your plan
ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

ZLU.TO (BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD)) and XHU.TO (iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds. ZLU.TO is actively managed, while XHU.TO is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ZLU.TO returned 9.43%/yr vs 7.63%/yr for XHU.TO. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ZLU.TO charges 0.33%/yr vs 0.34%/yr for XHU.TO.

Performance

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD) (ZLU.TO) and iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (XHU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZLU.TO achieves a 9.40% return, which is significantly lower than XHU.TO's 13.95% return. Over the past 10 years, ZLU.TO has outperformed XHU.TO with an annualized return of 9.43%, while XHU.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 7.63% annualized return.

ZLU.TO

1D
-0.14%
1M
4.18%
YTD
9.40%
6M
3.31%
1Y
9.98%
3Y*
10.83%
5Y*
10.19%
10Y*
9.43%

XHU.TO

1D
1.05%
1M
2.71%
YTD
13.95%
6M
4.75%
1Y
13.69%
3Y*
11.06%
5Y*
9.96%
10Y*
7.63%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
ZLU.TO
BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD)		9.40%1.95%21.52%-3.36%7.85%20.62%1.98%20.39%8.31%4.98%
XHU.TO
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF		13.95%-0.28%16.64%-1.52%12.37%18.23%-9.27%13.08%3.95%5.12%

Correlation

The correlation between ZLU.TO and XHU.TO is 0.65, 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

0.65

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

0.71

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

0.68

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

0.66

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 23, 2015

0.64

The correlation between ZLU.TO and XHU.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.64 to 0.71 - a consistent structural relationship.

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
ZLU.TO
XHU.TO

Utilities

20.5%
8.9%

Technology

19.0%
9.0%

Healthcare

17.7%
16.8%

Consumer Defensive

12.5%
24.1%

Financial Services

11.4%
10.8%

Industrials

6.4%
2.0%

Real Estate

3.3%

-

Consumer Cyclical

3.2%
5.8%

Communication Services

2.9%
0.1%

Basic Materials

2.5%
1.1%

Energy

0.6%
21.2%

Utilities

ZLU.TO
20.5%
XHU.TO
8.9%

Technology

ZLU.TO
19.0%
XHU.TO
9.0%

Healthcare

ZLU.TO
17.7%
XHU.TO
16.8%

Consumer Defensive

ZLU.TO
12.5%
XHU.TO
24.1%

Financial Services

ZLU.TO
11.4%
XHU.TO
10.8%

Industrials

ZLU.TO
6.4%
XHU.TO
2.0%

Real Estate

ZLU.TO
3.3%
XHU.TO

-

Consumer Cyclical

ZLU.TO
3.2%
XHU.TO
5.8%

Communication Services

ZLU.TO
2.9%
XHU.TO
0.1%

Basic Materials

ZLU.TO
2.5%
XHU.TO
1.1%

Energy

ZLU.TO
0.6%
XHU.TO
21.2%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD)

iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF

Often compared with ZLU.TO:
ZLU.TO vs. ZSP.TOZLU.TO vs. XMU.TOZLU.TO vs. ZDY.TOZLU.TO vs. ZID.TOZLU.TO vs. XEQT.TOZLU.TO vs. XBAL.TOZLU.TO vs. SPLV
Often compared with XHU.TO:
XHU.TO vs. CUD.TOXHU.TO vs. SCHDXHU.TO vs. VDY.TOXHU.TO vs. XEI.TOXHU.TO vs. XEQT.TOXHU.TO vs. DGROXHU.TO vs. XUS.TO

Return for Risk

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
ZLU.TO
ZLU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 2626
Overall Rank
ZLU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2626
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZLU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 2424
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZLU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 2525
Omega Ratio Rank
ZLU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 2727
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZLU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 2525
Martin Ratio Rank
XHU.TO
XHU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 3232
Overall Rank
XHU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3232
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XHU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 2828
Sortino Ratio Rank
XHU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 3434
Omega Ratio Rank
XHU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 3232
Calmar Ratio Rank
XHU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 3535
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.

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD) (ZLU.TO) and iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (XHU.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.

ZLU.TOXHU.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.96
1.17

-0.21

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.31
1.54

-0.23

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.17

1.23

-0.06

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.33

1.58

-0.25

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

3.38

5.48

-2.10

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZLU.TO Sharpe Ratio is 0.96, which is comparable to the XHU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.17. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZLU.TO and XHU.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.

Loading charts...

Sharpe Ratios by Period

ZLU.TOXHU.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.96

1.17

-0.21

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.90

0.84

+0.06

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.68

0.53

+0.15

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.97

0.55

+0.42

Drawdowns

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZLU.TO drawdown since its inception was -25.49%, smaller than the maximum XHU.TO drawdown of -29.94%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZLU.TO and XHU.TO.

Loading charts...

Drawdown Indicators

ZLU.TOXHU.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-25.49%

-29.94%

+4.45%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.53%

-8.73%

+1.20%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-9.17%

-12.53%

+3.36%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-10.40%

-12.53%

+2.13%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-25.49%

-29.94%

+4.45%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.03%

-1.84%

-0.19%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.11%

-3.73%

+0.62%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.97%

2.51%

+0.46%

Volatility

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD) (ZLU.TO) is 2.85%, while iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (XHU.TO) has a volatility of 3.53%. This indicates that ZLU.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XHU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Loading charts...

Volatility by Period

ZLU.TOXHU.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.85%

3.53%

-0.68%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

8.51%

10.28%

-1.77%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

10.46%

11.79%

-1.33%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

11.34%

11.89%

-0.55%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

13.91%

14.38%

-0.47%

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZLU.TO has a 0.33% expense ratio, which is lower than XHU.TO's 0.34% expense ratio.

Dividends

ZLU.TO vs. XHU.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZLU.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%, less than XHU.TO's 2.44% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XHU.TO
iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF		2.44%2.75%2.72%2.86%2.63%2.60%3.18%2.25%2.52%2.27%2.38%2.30%
ZLU.TO
BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD)		1.73%1.89%1.89%2.29%1.87%1.69%1.75%1.51%1.81%1.91%2.26%1.73%

Frequently Asked Questions

ZLU.TO and XHU.TO have a correlation of 0.65, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, ZLU.TO is cheaper at 0.33% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

ZLU.TO is cheaper with a 0.33% expense ratio, compared with 0.34% for XHU.TO.

They also come from different issuers: BMO and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.33% for ZLU.TO and 0.34% for XHU.TO.

Portfolio Optimizer

Find the right allocation for ZLU.TO and XHU.TO

Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.

Open Portfolio Optimizer