A side-by-side comparison of Vanguard Total World Bond ETF (BNDW) and Dimensional Global ex US Core Fixed Income ETF (DFGX) 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 | DFGX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -1.38%✓ | -1.85% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.23%✓ | +0.11% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.12%✓ | +0.04% |
| 1-Month Change | +1.38%✓ | +0.87% |
| Current Price | $66.76 | $51.59 |
| AUM | $1.93B✓ | $1.93B |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.04%✓ | 0.2% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.56%✓ | 4.52% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2018-09-04 | 2023-11-07 |
| Holdings Count | 2 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Global Bonds | Global Bonds |
| Beta | 0.81 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $68.33 | $52.69 |
| 52-Week Low | $65.47 | $50.81 |
| 50-Day MA | $66.55 | $51.55 |
| 200-Day MA | $67.92 | $52.55 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | BNDW | DFGX |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -1.38%✓ | -1.85% |
| 1 Year | -0.98%✓ | -1.03% |
| 3 Year | +4.63% | — |
| 5 Year | -0.03% | — |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 3.71% | 4.18% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | -0.11 | 0.00 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Sector Weights
| Sector | BNDW | DFGX |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DFGX
The fund seeks its investment objective by investing primarily in a universe of non-U.S. dollar-denominated foreign and U.S. debt securities. The portfolio manager will purchase fixed income securities that mature within twenty years from the date of settlement. The portfolio manager intends to invest its assets to gain exposure to at least three different countries, excluding the United States.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both BNDW and DFGX 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, BNDW 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 DFGX?
BNDW (Vanguard Total World Bond ETF) and DFGX (Dimensional Global ex US Core Fixed Income ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.93B vs $1.93B), dividend yield (4.56% vs 4.52%), and year-to-date performance (-1.38% vs -1.85%).
Is BNDW better than DFGX?
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 DFGX on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both BNDW and DFGX should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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