Each month, we check in on the performance of the largest Canadian stock exchange-traded funds. When evaluating ETFs, investors should focus on long-term returns across multiple years and market cycles. However, short-term returns can provide valuable information about biases within strategies.
Out of the 10 largest Canadian stock ETFs, the top performer last month was the C$22.9 billion iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF XEF, which gained 2.51%. The bottom performer was the C$17.1 billion BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF ZCN, which gained 0.50%.
Here’s more about the performance of the largest stock ETFs.
Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF VFV
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : US EquityMorningstar Category
The Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF gained 1.84% in June, underperforming the average fund in the US equity category, which rose 5.51%. The C$34.4 billion fund has gained 27.12% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 24.17%. The Vanguard fund, launched in November 2012, has climbed 23.05% over the past three years annualized and gained 16.15% annualized over the past five years.
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF XIC
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Canadian EquityMorningstar Category
In June, the iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF rose 0.50%, while the average Canadian equity fund gained 2.12%. The fund placed in the 63rd percentile for performance. The C$30.9 billion fund has climbed 32.78% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 27.80%. The BlackRock fund, launched in February 2001, has climbed 23.38% over the past three years annualized and gained 14.78% annualized over the past five years.
BMO S&P 500 Index ETF ZSP
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : US EquityMorningstar Category
The C$28.6 billion BMO S&P 500 Index ETF rose 1.87% in June. The gain on the fund was shy of the 5.51% gain on the average fund in the US equity category, leaving it in the 60th percentile for performance. Over the past year, the BMO fund rose 27.09%, while the average fund in its category rose 24.17%. The fund, launched in November 2012, has climbed 23.03% over the past three years annualized and gained 16.14% annualized over the past five years.
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF XIU
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Canadian EquityMorningstar Category
The C$23.1 billion iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF rose 1.63% in June. The gain on the fund was shy of the 2.12% gain on the average fund in the Canadian equity category, leaving it in the 28th percentile for performance. Over the past year, the BlackRock fund rose 31.31%, while the average fund in its category rose 27.80%. The fund, launched in September 1999, has climbed 22.48% over the past three years annualized and gained 14.41% annualized over the past five years.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF XEF
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : International EquityMorningstar Category
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF gained 2.51% in June, underperforming the average fund in the international equity category, which rose 3.89%. The C$22.9 billion fund has gained 24.63% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 18.60%. The BlackRock fund, launched in April 2013, has climbed 19.10% over the past three years annualized and gained 11.52% annualized over the past five years.
iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio XEQT
- : SilverMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Global EquityMorningstar Category
The iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio gained 2.15% in June, underperforming the average fund in the global equity category, which rose 4.90%. The fund placed in the 57th percentile for performance and beat its benchmark, the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, by 1.65 percentage points.
The C$20.1 billion fund has gained 29.30% over the past year, while the average fund in its category is up 22.25%. The BlackRock fund, launched in August 2019, has climbed 22.29% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.92% annualized over the past five years.
Vanguard US Total Market Index ETF
VUN
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : US EquityMorningstar Category
The C$19.1 billion Vanguard US Total Market Index ETF rose 2.42% in June. The gain on the fund was shy of the 5.51% gain on the average fund in the US equity category, leaving it in the 42nd percentile for performance. Over the past year, the Vanguard fund rose 27.88%, while the average fund in its category rose 24.17%. The fund, launched in August 2013, has climbed 22.81% over the past three years annualized and gained 14.91% annualized over the past five years.
BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF ZCN
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Canadian EquityMorningstar Category
In June, the BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF rose 0.50%, while the average Canadian equity fund gained 2.12%. The fund placed in the 64th percentile for performance. The C$17.1 billion fund has climbed 32.77% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 27.80%. The BMO fund, launched in May 2009, has climbed 23.38% over the past three years annualized and gained 14.78% annualized over the past five years.
Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF VCN
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Canadian EquityMorningstar Category
In June, the Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF rose 0.56%, while the average Canadian equity fund gained 2.12%. The fund placed in the 60th percentile for performance. The C$16.6 billion fund has climbed 32.01% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 27.80%. The Vanguard fund, launched in August 2013, has climbed 23.42% over the past three years annualized and gained 14.91% annualized over the past five years.
Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio VEQT
- : GoldMorningstar Medalist Rating
- : Global EquityMorningstar Category
In June, the Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio rose 2.04%, while the average global equity fund gained 4.90%. The fund placed in the 62nd percentile for performance and lagged its benchmark, the FTSE Global All Cap Index, by 0.20 percentage points.
The C$15.9 billion fund has climbed 30.01% over the past year, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 22.25%. The Vanguard fund, launched in January 2019, has climbed 22.41% over the past three years annualized and gained 13.83% annualized over the past five years.
