A side-by-side comparison of Dynamic Active U.S. Dividend ETF (DXU) and Vanguard US Total Market (VUN) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | DXU | VUN |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +27.70%✓ | +12.31% |
| 1-Day Change | +3.71%✓ | +0.23% |
| 1-Week Change | +6.13%✓ | +1.62% |
| 1-Month Change | +13.37%✓ | +7.31% |
| Current Price | $89.11 | $140.84 |
| AUM | $95M | $18.15B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | — | 0.80% |
| Distribution Frequency | Annually | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2017-01-20 | 2013-08-02 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | US Equity | US Equity |
| Beta | 1.25 | 1.02 |
| 52-Week High | $89.28 | $140.84 |
| 52-Week Low | $61.35 | $107.25 |
| 50-Day MA | $78.12 | $129.99 |
| 200-Day MA | $72.68 | $126.13 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | DXU | VUN |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +27.70%✓ | +12.31% |
| 1 Year | +40.35%✓ | +30.12% |
| 3 Year | +26.84%✓ | +23.45% |
| 5 Year | +14.16% | +15.53%✓ |
| 10 Year | — | +15.24% |
| 1Y Volatility | 18.67% | 11.75% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.27 | 1.48 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.77% |
| 2 | KEYS | Keysight Technologies Inc | 5.12% |
| 3 | FITB | Fifth Third Bancorp | 4.57% |
| 4 | USB | U.S. Bancorp | 4.52% |
| 5 | PNC | PNC Financial Services Group Inc | 4.41% |
| 6 | FIVE | Five Below Inc | 4.35% |
| 7 | TSM | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing | 4.15% |
| 8 | VRT | Vertiv Holdings Co | 3.98% |
| 9 | HUBB | Hubbell Inc | 3.91% |
| 10 | GEV | GE Vernova LLC | 3.83% |
| 1 | VTI | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares | 100.00% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | DXU | VUN |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 6.53% | 2.15% |
| Communication Services | 2.98% | 9.65% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.14% | 9.96% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 4.98% |
| Energy | 2.00% | 4.20% |
| Financial Services | 15.47% | 12.49% |
| Healthcare | 4.97% | 10.17% |
| Industrials | 34.65% | 9.89% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 2.47% |
| Technology | 25.26% | 31.53% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 2.51% |
About DXU
NA
About VUN
Vanguard U.S. Total Market Index ETF seeks to track, to the extent reasonably possible and before fees and expenses, the performance of a broad U.S. equity index that measures the investment returns of primarily large-capitalization U.S. stocks. Currently, this Vanguard ETF seeks to track the CRSP US Total Market Index (or any successor thereto). It invests directly or indirectly primarily in stocks of U.S. companies.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both DXU and VUN are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
DXU and VUN are closely matched on the metrics we track. The right choice depends on your individual investment goals, tax situation, and time horizon.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DXU and VUN?
DXU (Dynamic Active U.S. Dividend ETF) and VUN (Vanguard US Total Market) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($95M vs $18.15B), dividend yield (N/A vs 0.80%), and year-to-date performance (+27.70% vs +12.31%).
Is DXU better than VUN?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, DXU has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy DXU and VUN on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both DXU and VUN should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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