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ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

ZWB.TO (BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF) and XEM.TO (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZWB.TO is a Financials Equities fund actively managed by BMO, while XEM.TO is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the Morningstar EM GR CAD. ZWB.TO is actively managed, while XEM.TO is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ZWB.TO returned 12.43%/yr vs 9.89%/yr for XEM.TO. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. ZWB.TO charges 0.71%/yr vs 0.81%/yr for XEM.TO.

Performance

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XEM.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, ZWB.TO achieves a 18.31% return, which is significantly lower than XEM.TO's 22.11% return. Over the past 10 years, ZWB.TO has outperformed XEM.TO with an annualized return of 12.43%, while XEM.TO has yielded a comparatively lower 9.89% annualized return.

ZWB.TO

1D
0.35%
1M
5.16%
YTD
18.31%
6M
20.90%
1Y
52.20%
3Y*
26.73%
5Y*
14.38%
10Y*
12.43%

XEM.TO

1D
1.87%
1M
-1.17%
YTD
22.11%
6M
22.63%
1Y
45.44%
3Y*
22.07%
5Y*
8.55%
10Y*
9.89%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
ZWB.TO
BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF		18.31%34.91%19.41%6.67%-11.00%30.81%1.68%14.32%-8.08%11.52%
XEM.TO
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		22.11%27.25%14.98%6.49%-15.74%-4.09%14.12%11.47%-8.06%27.79%

Correlation

The correlation between ZWB.TO and XEM.TO is 0.41, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.41

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

0.40

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

0.37

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

0.39

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 4, 2011

0.44

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
ZWB.TO
XEM.TO

Financial Services

100.0%
19.4%

Basic Materials

-

6.5%

Communication Services

-

6.9%

Consumer Cyclical

-

9.6%

Consumer Defensive

-

3.0%

Energy

-

4.0%

Healthcare

-

2.9%

Industrials

-

7.5%

Real Estate

-

1.1%

Technology

-

37.0%

Utilities

-

2.1%

Financial Services

ZWB.TO
100.0%
XEM.TO
19.4%

Basic Materials

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
6.5%

Communication Services

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
6.9%

Consumer Cyclical

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
9.6%

Consumer Defensive

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
3.0%

Energy

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
4.0%

Healthcare

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
2.9%

Industrials

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
7.5%

Real Estate

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
1.1%

Technology

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
37.0%

Utilities

ZWB.TO

-

XEM.TO
2.1%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF

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Often compared with XEM.TO:
XEM.TO vs. XEC.TOXEM.TO vs. XEF.TOXEM.TO vs. XEQT.TOXEM.TO vs. ZEA.TOXEM.TO vs. VXC.TOXEM.TO vs. VOOXEM.TO vs. VFV.TO

Return for Risk

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
ZWB.TO
ZWB.TO Risk / Return Rank: 9696
Overall Rank
ZWB.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9898
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ZWB.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 9898
Sortino Ratio Rank
ZWB.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 9797
Omega Ratio Rank
ZWB.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 9494
Calmar Ratio Rank
ZWB.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 9595
Martin Ratio Rank
XEM.TO
XEM.TO Risk / Return Rank: 7777
Overall Rank
XEM.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7777
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XEM.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7272
Sortino Ratio Rank
XEM.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 7979
Omega Ratio Rank
XEM.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 7979
Calmar Ratio Rank
XEM.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 7777
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.

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XEM.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.

ZWB.TOXEM.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
4.62
2.24

+2.38

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
6.38
2.88

+3.50

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.89

1.42

+0.46

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

6.71

3.72

+2.99

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

30.11

13.29

+16.81

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

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZWB.TO Sharpe Ratio is 4.62, which is higher than the XEM.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.24. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZWB.TO and XEM.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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

ZWB.TOXEM.TODifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

4.62

2.24

+2.38

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.14

0.51

+0.64

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.80

0.55

+0.25

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.75

0.41

+0.34

Drawdowns

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZWB.TO drawdown since its inception was -39.36%, which is greater than XEM.TO's maximum drawdown of -35.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZWB.TO and XEM.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

ZWB.TOXEM.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-39.36%

-35.27%

-4.09%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.82%

-12.27%

+4.45%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.05%

-15.30%

+1.25%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.26%

-31.06%

+5.80%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-39.36%

-35.27%

-4.09%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.10%

-6.32%

+6.22%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-5.56%

-10.50%

+4.94%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.74%

3.43%

-1.69%

Volatility

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB.TO) is 3.89%, while iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XEM.TO) has a volatility of 10.27%. This indicates that ZWB.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XEM.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

ZWB.TOXEM.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.89%

10.27%

-6.38%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.91%

18.17%

-8.26%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

11.39%

20.45%

-9.06%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

12.64%

16.97%

-4.33%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

15.68%

18.17%

-2.49%

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZWB.TO has a 0.71% expense ratio, which is lower than XEM.TO's 0.81% expense ratio.

Dividends

ZWB.TO vs. XEM.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZWB.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.93%, more than XEM.TO's 1.56% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XEM.TO
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF		1.56%1.90%2.08%2.39%2.10%1.91%1.28%2.56%1.95%1.78%1.97%2.24%
ZWB.TO
BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF		4.93%5.38%6.66%7.62%7.30%5.46%5.80%5.53%5.59%4.80%5.04%5.64%

Frequently Asked Questions

ZWB.TO and XEM.TO have a correlation of 0.41, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, ZWB.TO is cheaper at 0.71% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

ZWB.TO is cheaper with a 0.71% expense ratio, compared with 0.81% for XEM.TO.

ZWB.TO is categorized as Financials Equities, while XEM.TO is Emerging Markets Equities. They also come from different issuers: BMO and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.71% for ZWB.TO and 0.81% for XEM.TO.

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