A side-by-side comparison of BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF (ZSML) and Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares (VTWO) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | ZSML | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +18.43%✓ | -2.01% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.11%✓ | +0.97% |
| 1-Week Change | +2.04% | +2.62%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +1.88% | +2.21%✓ |
| Current Price | $52.43 | $114.72 |
| AUM | $194M | $16.83B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | — | 0.1% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.09% | 1.25%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | NA |
| Inception Date | 2020-01-28 | 2010-09-20 |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 1971 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Small & Mid Cap Equity | US Small & Mid Cap Equity |
| Beta | 1.24 | 1.27 |
| 52-Week High | $56.36 | $122.96 |
| 52-Week Low | $41.16 | $91.39 |
| 50-Day MA | $52.25 | $115.20 |
| 200-Day MA | $50.50 | $112.57 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ZSML | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +18.43%✓ | -2.01% |
| 1 Year | +16.83%✓ | +13.03% |
| 3 Year | +19.06% | +21.53%✓ |
| 5 Year | +8.64%✓ | +6.27% |
| 10 Year | — | +10.62% |
| 1Y Volatility | 15.18% | 16.98% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.73 | 0.68 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | FORM | FormFactor Inc | 0.60% |
| 2 | VSAT | ViaSat Inc | 0.58% |
| 3 | QRVO | Qorvo Inc | 0.57% |
| 4 | GKOS | Glaukos Corp | 0.55% |
| 5 | PTGX | Protagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.53% |
| 6 | MTCH | Match Group Inc | 0.53% |
| 7 | PAYC | Paycom Software, Inc. | 0.49% |
| 8 | RHP | Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc | 0.48% |
| 9 | JXN | Jackson Financial Inc | 0.49% |
| 10 | ESI | Element Solutions Inc | 0.49% |
| 1 | TWST | Twist Bioscience Corp | 0.43% |
| 2 | MOG-A | Moog Inc | 0.36% |
| 3 | FROG | Jfrog Ltd | 0.34% |
| 4 | TXG | 10X Genomics Inc | 0.34% |
| 5 | UMBF | UMB Financial Corporation | 0.31% |
| 6 | BTSG | BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock | 0.30% |
| 7 | GKOS | Glaukos Corp | 0.31% |
| 8 | VSAT | ViaSat Inc | 0.30% |
| 9 | CYTK | Cytokinetics Inc | 0.30% |
| 10 | HUT | Hut 8 Corp. Common Stock | 0.30% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ZSML | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 4.57% | 4.43% |
| Communication Services | 3.35% | 2.35% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 11.95% | 8.35% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.59% | 2.52% |
| Energy | 6.17% | 6.10% |
| Financial Services | 16.58% | 17.81% |
| Healthcare | 10.77% | 21.51% |
| Industrials | 15.17% | 12.72% |
| Real Estate | 7.42% | 6.47% |
| Technology | 15.14% | 14.51% |
| Utilities | 1.77% | 2.62% |
About ZSML
NA
About VTWO
The fund advisor employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. The index is designed to measure the performance of small-capitalization stocks in the United States. The advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ZSML and VTWO 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, VTWO 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 ZSML and VTWO?
ZSML (BMO S&P US Small Cap Index ETF) and VTWO (Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($194M vs $16.83B), dividend yield (1.09% vs 1.25%), and year-to-date performance (+18.43% vs -2.01%).
Is ZSML better than VTWO?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ZSML has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ZSML and VTWO on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ZSML and VTWO should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
7 stocks to buy and hold forever
Complement your ETF portfolio with these proven long-term individual stocks.
Get the FREE Report