A side-by-side comparison of Purpose Core Dividend Fund Series ETF (PDF) and BMO SIA Focused North American Equity Fund ETF Series (ZFN) 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 | ZFN | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +12.42%✓ | -0.14% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.25% | +2.49%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | 0.00%✓ | -0.13% |
| 1-Month Change | +3.41%✓ | +4.05% |
| Current Price | $43.10 | $62.93 |
| AUM | $236M | $241M✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.02%✓ | 0.51% |
| Distribution Frequency | Monthly | Annually |
| Inception Date | 2013-09-03 | 2018-12-06 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 9 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | North American Equity | North American Equity |
| Beta | 0.45 | 0.99 |
| 52-Week High | $43.15 | $67.33 |
| 52-Week Low | $33.05 | $53.85 |
| 50-Day MA | $41.33 | $60.01 |
| 200-Day MA | $38.94 | $64.05 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ZFN | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +12.42%✓ | -0.14% |
| 1 Year | +29.15%✓ | +11.96% |
| 3 Year | +18.06%✓ | +16.68% |
| 5 Year | +11.13% | +11.38%✓ |
| 10 Year | +9.36% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 8.90% | 11.76% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.50 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | TD | Toronto Dominion Bank | 5.76% |
| 2 | CM | Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce | 4.77% |
| 3 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | 4.60% |
| 4 | TRP | TC Energy Corp | 3.65% |
| 5 | MFC | Manulife Financial Corp | 3.59% |
| 6 | BNS | Bank of Nova Scotia | 3.56% |
| 7 | ENB | Enbridge Inc | 3.18% |
| 8 | PPL | Pembina Pipeline Corp | 3.07% |
| 9 | AEM | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited | 2.92% |
| 10 | TOU | Tourmaline Oil Corp. | 2.80% |
| 1 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 6.60% |
| 2 | CVE | Cenovus Energy Inc | 6.50% |
| 3 | CM | Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce | 6.41% |
| 4 | AMAT | Applied Materials Inc | 5.96% |
| 5 | BNY | The Bank of New York Mellon Cor | 5.94% |
| 6 | WMT | Walmart Inc. | 5.93% |
| 7 | IMO | Imperial Oil Ltd | 5.85% |
| 8 | NA | National Bank of Canada | 5.69% |
| 9 | MS | Morgan Stanley | 5.66% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ZFN | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 5.68% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 3.49% | 7.46% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.76% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.44% | 6.71% |
| Energy | 18.47% | 20.11% |
| Financial Services | 35.49% | 26.79% |
| Healthcare | 7.24% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 6.12% | 12.49% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 5.24% | 20.07% |
| Utilities | 5.08% | 6.37% |
About PDF
Purpose Core Dividend Fund Series ETF (PDF.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
About ZFN
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Which ETF is Right for You?
Both PDF and ZFN are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, PDF scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- 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 PDF and ZFN?
PDF (Purpose Core Dividend Fund Series ETF) and ZFN (BMO SIA Focused North American Equity Fund ETF Series) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($236M vs $241M), dividend yield (3.02% vs 0.51%), and year-to-date performance (+12.42% vs -0.14%).
Is PDF better than ZFN?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, PDF has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy PDF and ZFN on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both PDF and ZFN should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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