Question 1

What is VCNS?

Accepted Answer

VCNS — Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio — is a Canadian-listed ETF trading on the TSX. Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio seeks to provide a combination of income and moderate long-term capital growth by investing in equity and fixed income securities.

Question 2

What is the VCNS ETF price today?

Accepted Answer

VCNS last traded at $32.44 CAD on the TSX. See the price chart above for recent performance.

Question 3

What is the VCNS MER (management expense ratio)?

Accepted Answer

VCNS has a management expense ratio (MER) of 0% per year. This fee is automatically deducted from the fund's assets, so you never pay it directly — but it does reduce your net returns over time. At 0%, VCNS is considered a low-cost ETF.

Question 4

What are VCNS annualised returns?

Accepted Answer

VCNS historical returns: YTD: +3.05%, 1-year: +6.77%, 3-year annualised: +10.29%, 5-year annualised: +4.60%. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The 3-year Sharpe ratio is 1.08, which measures risk-adjusted return.

Question 5

Does VCNS pay dividends or distributions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, VCNS distributes income to unitholders. The current distribution yield is approximately 2.48%, paid quarterly. Distributions may include dividends, interest, capital gains, or return of capital depending on the fund's holdings. In a TFSA or RRSP, distributions are sheltered from tax.

Question 6

What does VCNS invest in?

Accepted Answer

VCNS's top holdings include Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond (VAB, 34.6%), Vanguard US Total Market (VUN, 18.3%), Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap (VCN, 12.6%), Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE) (VBG, 12.2%), Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VBU, 11.7%) — and 2 more positions. See the full Top 10 Holdings table above for a complete breakdown. The fund tracks the Morningstar Can FI Gbl Tgt Alloc NR CAD.

Question 7

What sectors does VCNS invest in?

Accepted Answer

VCNS's largest sector exposures are Technology (24.2%), Financial Services (21.8%), Industrials (11.6%). The full sector breakdown is shown in the Sector Weights table on this page.

Question 8

How large is VCNS? (Assets under management)

Accepted Answer

VCNS has approximately $958M in assets under management (AUM). Larger AUM generally means better liquidity, tighter bid-ask spreads, and a lower risk of the fund being wound down.

Question 9

When was VCNS launched?

Accepted Answer

VCNS was launched on January 25, 2018, giving it a 8-year track record. A longer history makes it easier to evaluate how the ETF performs across different market cycles.

Question 10

How do I buy VCNS in Canada?

Accepted Answer

VCNS trades on the TSX under the ticker VCNS. You can buy it through any Canadian brokerage, including Wealthsimple Trade (commission-free), Questrade, TD Direct Investing, RBC Direct, and CIBC Investor's Edge. It can be held in a TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, or taxable account.

Question 11

How risky is VCNS?

Accepted Answer

VCNS has a 1-year volatility of 6.12% and a beta of 1.27 (more volatile than the broad market). Its 3-year Sharpe ratio of 1.08 indicates solid risk-adjusted returns. As with all market-linked investments, past volatility does not predict future risk.

Date	Open	High	Low	Close	Adj Close	Volume
2026-09-10	$32.55	$32.55	$32.44	$32.44	$32.44	22,299
2026-09-09	$32.75	$32.75	$32.66	$32.67	$32.67	15,096
2026-09-08	$32.93	$32.93	$32.79	$32.79	$32.79	56,501
2026-09-04	$32.88	$32.98	$32.88	$32.95	$32.95	7,700
2026-09-03	$32.80	$32.92	$32.80	$32.91	$32.91	27,607
2026-09-02	$32.76	$32.81	$32.72	$32.77	$32.77	21,684
2026-09-01	$32.83	$32.83	$32.74	$32.77	$32.77	16,779
2026-08-31	$33.00	$33.00	$32.84	$32.89	$32.89	36,967
2026-08-28	$33.08	$33.08	$32.96	$32.99	$32.99	36,487
2026-08-27	$33.06	$33.07	$33.03	$33.04	$33.04	22,010

#	Ticker	Name	Weight
1	VAB	Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond	34.64%
2	VUN	Vanguard US Total Market	18.32%
3	VCN	Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap	12.59%
4	VBG	Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE)	12.21%
5	VBU	Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF	11.66%
6	VIU	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North Amer Idx ETF	7.38%
7	VEE	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF	3.21%

Sector	Weight
Technology	24.18%
Financial Services	21.78%
Industrials	11.61%
Basic Materials	7.36%
Consumer Cyclicals	7.34%
Energy	7.33%
Healthcare	6.15%
Communication Services	5.55%
Consumer Defensive	4.04%
Utilities	2.55%
Real Estate	2.11%

Ticker	Name	Price	1D
OILU		$65.56	+11.27%
HOU	BetaPro Crude Oil Daily Bull ETF	$29.03	+11.14%
SLVD	BetaPro Silver -2x Daily Bear ETF	$31.94	+10.98%
CGMD		$5.11	+10.61%
SOXD		$15.41	+7.69%
AAPU		$43.36	+7.33%
MSTZ		$3.24	+7.28%
GASD		$5.46	+6.64%

CIBC Investor's Edge

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS : TSX)

Price Chart (30 Days)

Key Statistics

Recent Price History

Annualised Returns

Top 10 Holdings

Sector Weights

About Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio

ETF Details

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Frequently Asked Questions — VCNS