A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) and Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (VCSH) 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 | FTSM | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +0.68%✓ | -0.36% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.07%✓ | -0.33% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.07%✓ | +0.01% |
| 1-Month Change | +0.03%✓ | +0.23% |
| Current Price | $59.63 | $77.54 |
| AUM | $6.83B | $45.96B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.46% | 0.04%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 4.39%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2014-08-05 | 2009-11-19 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Short-Term Bonds | Short-Term Bonds |
| Beta | 0.06 | 0.43 |
| 52-Week High | $60.48 | $77.92 |
| 52-Week Low | $57.56 | $76.13 |
| 50-Day MA | $59.67 | $77.62 |
| 200-Day MA | $59.83 | $78.75 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FTSM | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +0.68%✓ | -0.36% |
| 1 Year | +3.50%✓ | +1.76% |
| 3 Year | +4.84% | +5.19%✓ |
| 5 Year | +3.77%✓ | +2.60% |
| 10 Year | +2.75%✓ | +2.56% |
| 1Y Volatility | 0.46% | 2.14% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.23 | 0.43 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | GPN | Global Payments Inc | 0.76% |
| 1 | US573874AN44 | MRVL 4.875 22-JUN-28 | 0.01% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FTSM | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| 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 FTSM
Under normal market conditions, the Advisor intends to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed- and variable-rate debt securities. Normally the fund's portfolio is expected to have an average duration of less than one year and an average maturity of less than three years.
About VCSH
The fund manager employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. 1-5 Year Corporate Bond Index, which includes U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable debt securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility, and financial companies, all with maturities between 1 and 5 years. Under normal circumstances, it invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in the bonds th…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FTSM and VCSH 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, VCSH 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 FTSM and VCSH?
FTSM (First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF) and VCSH (Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($6.83B vs $45.96B), dividend yield (4.19% vs 4.39%), and year-to-date performance (+0.68% vs -0.36%).
Is FTSM better than VCSH?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, FTSM has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy FTSM and VCSH on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FTSM and VCSH should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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