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Updated July 18
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Canadian Bond ETFs
Canadian bond ETFs invest in debt securities issued by the federal government, provinces and Canadian corporations. They offer exposure to the Canadian bond market without currency risk.
Why invest
Portfolio stability without currency risk exposure. Canadian government bonds are considered very safe.
How to choose
Choose based on desired average duration and issuer type (government vs corporate).
ZAG vs VAB: what is the difference for Canadian bonds?
ZAG (BMO) and VAB (Vanguard) track similar Canadian bond indices. Differences are minor: MER fees, number of holdings and weighting. Both are excellent choices for diversified Canadian bond exposure.
Government vs corporate bonds: which to choose?
Government bonds are safer but offer lower yield. Corporate bonds offer higher yield in exchange for credit risk. An aggregate ETF like ZAG combines both for a good balance.
Should I hold Canadian bonds in an RRSP or TFSA?
RRSP is generally preferable since bond interest is taxed at full marginal rate. Reserve your TFSA for higher-growth assets like equities.
Canadian Bond ETFs
Canadian bond ETFs invest in debt securities issued by the federal government, provinces and Canadian corporations. They offer exposure to the Canadian bond market without currency risk.
Why invest
Portfolio stability without currency risk exposure. Canadian government bonds are considered very safe.
How to choose
Choose based on desired average duration and issuer type (government vs corporate).
ZAG vs VAB: what is the difference for Canadian bonds?
ZAG (BMO) and VAB (Vanguard) track similar Canadian bond indices. Differences are minor: MER fees, number of holdings and weighting. Both are excellent choices for diversified Canadian bond exposure.
Government vs corporate bonds: which to choose?
Government bonds are safer but offer lower yield. Corporate bonds offer higher yield in exchange for credit risk. An aggregate ETF like ZAG combines both for a good balance.
Should I hold Canadian bonds in an RRSP or TFSA?
RRSP is generally preferable since bond interest is taxed at full marginal rate. Reserve your TFSA for higher-growth assets like equities.
Holdings | Strategy | Dist. Freq. | Market | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PU SYLD Strategic Yield Fund | +9.80% | 0.80% | 5.83% | 2018 | 222M$ | 0.17 | Active | Mo. | 6K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI CXF Canadian Convertible Bond ETF | +5.15% | 0.65% | - | 4.53% | 2011 | 61M$ | 0.21 | Active | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
MA QEBL Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond Index ETF | +5.09% | 0.45% | 5.35% | 2019 | 119M$ | 0.22 | Index | Mo. | 426 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IS CVD Convertible Bond Index ETF | +4.47% | 0.49% | +7 | 4.96% | 2011 | 129M$ | 0.15 | Index | Mo. | 4K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
PI PFCO PICTON Credit Opportunities Alternative Fund | +3.24% | 0.95% | 5.83% | 2021 | 45M$ | -0.02 | Active | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI CAFR CIBC Active Investment Grade Floating Rate Bond ETF | +3.12% | 0.30% | 3.47% | 2019 | 553M$ | 0.00 | Active | Mo. | 3K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA MFT Floating Rate Income ETF | +3.10% | 0.60% | - | 8.24% | 2016 | 320M$ | 0.01 | Index | Mo. | 4K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
IS XFR Floating Rate Index ETF | +3.06% | 0.12% | 2.72% | 2011 | 794M$ | -0.01 | Index | Mo. | 38K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IN PFL Canadian Government Floating Rate Index ETF | +2.92% | 0.12% | 2.64% | 2014 | 259M$ | -0.01 | Index | Mo. | 12K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI CMEY Marret Alternative Enhanced Yield Fund | +2.50% | 0.80% | +9 | 4.38% | 2020 | 7M$ | 0.06 | Active | Mo. | 163 | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
PU BND Global Bond Fund | +2.49% | 0.43% | +6 | 5.85% | 2015 | 996M$ | 0.40 | Index | Mo. | 40K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
DY DXO Active Crossover Bond ETF | +2.40% | 0.50% | 5.31% | 2017 | 111M$ | 0.51 | Active | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
EV EARN Active Global Fixed Income Fund | +2.26% | 0.65% | 4.60% | 2018 | 29M$ | 0.13 | Active | Mo. | 140 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
PU IGB Global Bond Class | +2.13% | 0.50% | +9 | 4.78% | 2013 | 421M$ | 0.40 | Index | Mo. | 16K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
NA NSCB NBI Sustainable Canadian Bond ETF | +2.01% | 0.55% | 2.98% | 2020 | 2.8G$ | 1.12 | Thematic | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
GL HAF Active Global Fixed Income ETF | +1.95% | 0.45% | 5.00% | 2009 | 67M$ | 0.43 | Active | Mo. | 11K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
GL HMP Active Canadian Municipal Bond ETF | +1.92% | 0.25% | 3.20% | 2015 | 74M$ | 0.42 | Active | Mo. | 5K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
BM ZMBS Canadian MBS Index ETF | +1.42% | 0.15% | 2.58% | 2020 | 454M$ | 0.01 | Index | Mo. | 540 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IA ICPB Agile Core Plus Bond Fund | +1.42% | 0.50% | 4.60% | 2018 | 78M$ | 0.49 | Index | Mo. | 9K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
BR BPRF Flaherty & Crumrine Investment Grade Preferred ETF | +1.32% | 0.75% | 5.90% | 2018 | 147M$ | 0.33 | Active | Mo. | 686 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA MUB Unconstrained Bond ETF | +1.22% | 0.50% | +9 | 4.64% | 2016 | 1.2G$ | 0.68 | Index | Mo. | 38K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
IS CLG 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF | +0.93% | 0.17% | 2.54% | 2011 | 995M$ | 0.73 | Index | Mo. | 8K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
NA NUBF NBI Unconstrained Fixed Income ETF | +0.74% | 0.75% | 4.47% | 2019 | 3.0G$ | 0.37 | Active | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
BR BEPR Flaherty & Crumrine Enhanced Investment Grade Preferred ETF | +0.62% | 1.93% | +9 | 8.98% | 2004 | 59M$ | 0.00 | Active | Mo. | 3K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
MA BSKT Smart Core Bond ETF | +0.52% | 0.24% | 3.38% | 2020 | 772M$ | 1.01 | Index | Mo. | 39K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
GU GCBD Canadian Bond Fund | +0.51% | 0.30% | 3.24% | 2021 | 46M$ | 0.69 | Index | Mo. | 713 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
TD TGFI TD Active Global Income ETF | +0.49% | 0.55% | 5.11% | 2019 | 378M$ | 0.43 | Active | Mo. | 4K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA QEBH Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) | +0.41% | 0.45% | 4.78% | 2019 | 322M$ | 0.84 | Index | Mo. | 1K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI FIG Investment Grade Bond ETF | +0.29% | 0.65% | 4.04% | 2009 | 225M$ | 0.44 | Active | Mo. | 1K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IS XQB High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF | +0.21% | 0.13% | 3.10% | 2009 | 537M$ | 0.98 | Factor | Mo. | 12K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
DE DRCU RI Active Canadian Bond - Net-Zero Emissions Pathway ETF | +0.21% | 0.35% | 3.39% | 2018 | 45M$ | 1.10 | Active | Mo. | 673 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA MKB Canadian Strategic Fixed Income ETF | +0.19% | 0.40% | +9 | 3.56% | 2016 | 908M$ | 1.07 | Active | Mo. | 23K | 🇨🇦 Canada | ||
MA QBB Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | +0.13% | 0.07% | 3.14% | 2018 | 1.4G$ | 1.08 | Index | Mo. | 4K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
DY DXB Active Tactical Bond ETF | +0.13% | 0.55% | 4.28% | 2017 | 157M$ | 0.68 | Active | Mo. | 1K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
DE DCU Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF | +0.06% | 0.07% | 2.78% | 2017 | 2.3G$ | 1.07 | Index | Mo. | 7K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
TD TDB TD Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | -0.06% | 0.07% | 3.46% | 2016 | 4.1G$ | 1.09 | Index | Mo. | 119K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IS XBB Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF | -0.07% | 0.10% | 3.40% | 2000 | 10.1G$ | 1.11 | Index | Mo. | 149K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
BM ZDB Discount Bond Index ETF | -0.17% | 0.09% | 1.95% | 2014 | 1.3G$ | 1.11 | Index | Mo. | 50K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
VA VAB Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | -0.20% | 0.08% | 3.30% | 2011 | 7.5G$ | 1.11 | Index | Mo. | 151K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IS XSAB ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF | -0.21% | 0.17% | 3.00% | 2019 | 241M$ | 1.10 | Thematic | Mo. | 10K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
GL HAD Active Canadian Bond ETF | -0.23% | 0.30% | 3.70% | 2012 | 43M$ | 1.25 | Active | Mo. | 1K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI FGO Enhanced Government Bond ETF | -0.31% | 0.55% | 3.13% | 2018 | 703M$ | 0.62 | Index | Qtr. | 3K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA MGB Core Plus Global Fixed Income ETF | -0.42% | 0.50% | 3.76% | 2016 | 109M$ | 0.40 | Index | Mo. | 2K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
IS XGB Core Canadian Government Bond Index ETF | -0.68% | 0.20% | 3.10% | 2006 | 1.7G$ | 1.19 | Index | Mo. | 44K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI CCBI CIBC Canadian Bond Index ETF | -0.75% | 0.06% | 3.04% | 2021 | 160M$ | 1.11 | Index | Mo. | 17K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
FR FLGA Franklin Global Core Bond Fund | -0.79% | 0.35% | 2.70% | 2018 | 389M$ | 0.27 | Index | Mo. | 3K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
VA VGV Canadian Government Bond Index ETF | -0.84% | 0.10% | 3.09% | 2017 | 147M$ | 1.22 | Index | Mo. | 4K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
TD TULB TD U.S. Long Term Treasury Bond ETF | -0.89% | 0.20% | 4.46% | 2019 | 252M$ | 2.31 | Index | Qtr. | 5K | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
MA QDXB Developed ex-North America Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) | -1.25% | 0.30% | 2.26% | 2020 | 61M$ | 0.26 | Index | Mo. | 620 | 🇨🇦 Canada | |||
CI CDLB DoubleLine Total Return Bond US$ Fund | -1.27% | 0.60% | 4.52% | 2020 | 1M$ | 0.54 | Index | Mo. | 484 | 🇨🇦 Canada |