A side-by-side comparison of iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF (XMA) and CI First Asset Can-Materials Covered Call ETF Common (MXF) 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 | XMA | MXF |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +10.90%✓ | -17.11% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.49%✓ | -4.87% |
| 1-Week Change | +2.28%✓ | -6.62% |
| 1-Month Change | +7.40%✓ | — |
| Current Price | $46.29 | $19.33 |
| AUM | $722M✓ | $248M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0%✓ | 0.74% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.38% | 7.36%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2005-12-19 | 2011-06-01 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Category | Natural Resources Equity | Natural Resources Equity |
| Beta | 1.45 | 0.85 |
| 52-Week High | $55.67 | $24.63 |
| 52-Week Low | $26.55 | $12.16 |
| 50-Day MA | $45.66 | $12.16 |
| 200-Day MA | $42.05 | $12.16 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | XMA | MXF |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +10.90%✓ | -17.11% |
| 1 Year | +76.33%✓ | +57.57% |
| 3 Year | +37.94%✓ | +33.09% |
| 5 Year | +20.90%✓ | +17.88% |
| 10 Year | +15.08%✓ | +11.86% |
| 1Y Volatility | 38.87% | 40.49% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.18 | 0.95 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AEM | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited | 14.90% |
| 2 | ABX | Barrick Gold Corp | 10.41% |
| 3 | WPM | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp | 9.07% |
| 4 | FNV | Franco-Nevada Corporation | 7.03% |
| 5 | NTR | Nutrien Ltd | 5.79% |
| 6 | K | Kinross Gold Corp | 5.75% |
| 7 | TECK-B | Teck Resources Limited | 4.13% |
| 8 | PAAS | Pan American Silver Corp | 3.49% |
| 9 | LUN | Lundin Mining Corporation | 2.74% |
| 10 | AGI | Alamos Gold Inc | 2.65% |
| 1 | DGC | Detour Gold Corporation | 5.10% |
| 2 | YRI | Yamana Gold Inc | 4.70% |
| 3 | PAAS | Pan American Silver Corp | 4.65% |
| 4 | CG | Centerra Gold Inc | 4.55% |
| 5 | SSRM | SSR Mining Inc | 4.48% |
| 6 | AGI | Alamos Gold Inc | 4.28% |
| 7 | PVG | Pretium Resources Inc | 4.25% |
| 8 | WPM | Wheaton Precious Metals Corp | 4.23% |
| 9 | K | Kinross Gold Corp | 4.19% |
| 10 | FNV | Franco-Nevada Corporation | 4.07% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | XMA | MXF |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 98.38% | 100.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 1.62% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About XMA
iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF (XMA.TO) is a Canadian-listed ETF traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. More detailed information will be available soon.
About MXF
The investment objective of the Can-Materials ETF is to provide unitholders, through an actively managed portfolio, as described below, with (i) quarterly cash distributions, (ii) the opportunity for capital appreciation by investing on an equal weight basis in a portfolio of securities of the 25 largest issuers measured by market capitalization chosen from the S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index and (iii) lower overall volatility of returns on the portfolio than would be experienced by owning a port…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both XMA and MXF 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, XMA 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 XMA and MXF?
XMA (iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF) and MXF (CI First Asset Can-Materials Covered Call ETF Common) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($722M vs $248M), dividend yield (0.38% vs 7.36%), and year-to-date performance (+10.90% vs -17.11%).
Is XMA better than MXF?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, XMA has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy XMA and MXF on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both XMA and MXF should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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