A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard Total World Bond ETF (BNDW) and Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF (DFGP) 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 | BNDW | DFGP |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -2.86%✓ | -3.00% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.14% | +0.28%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.42% | -0.19%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -1.78% | -1.89%✓ |
| Current Price | $65.76 | $52.07 |
| AUM | $1.91B | $3.54B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.05%✓ | 0.22% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.29% | 5.59%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2018-09-04 | 2023-11-07 |
| Holdings Count | 2 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★ | — |
| Category | Global Bond-USD Hedged | Global Bond-USD Hedged |
| Beta | 0.82 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $68.33 | $54.08 |
| 52-Week Low | $65.47 | $51.77 |
| 50-Day MA | $67.09 | $53.09 |
| 200-Day MA | $68.19 | $54.05 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | BNDW | DFGP |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -2.86%✓ | -3.00% |
| 1 Year | -0.71% | -0.37%✓ |
| 3 Year | +4.03% | — |
| 5 Year | -0.33% | — |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 3.24% | 3.83% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | -0.13 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Sector Weights
| Sector | BNDW | DFGP |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 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 BNDW
The fund is a fund of funds and employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the index, which is a custom, USD-hedged index designed to track the market capitalized weights of the global investment-grade bond market and is comprised of the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted Index and the Bloomberg Global Aggregate ex-USD Float Adjusted RIC Capped Index.
About DFGP
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities. The Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities considered investment grade at the time of purchase or Fitch or Aaa to Baa3 by Moody"s and in lower-rated fixed income securities.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both BNDW and DFGP 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, DFGP 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 BNDW and DFGP?
BNDW (Vanguard Total World Bond ETF) and DFGP (Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.91B vs $3.54B), dividend yield (4.29% vs 5.59%), and year-to-date performance (-2.86% vs -3.00%).
Is BNDW better than DFGP?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, BNDW has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy BNDW and DFGP on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both BNDW and DFGP should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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