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 $32.65 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: +3.72%, 1-year: +10.08%, 3-year annualised: +10.03%, 5-year annualised: +4.83%. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The 3-year Sharpe ratio is 1.11, 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 2.40%, 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, 18.5%), Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap (VCN, 12.2%), Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE) (VBG, 12.2%), Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VBU, 11.6%) — 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 (24.4%), Financial Services (20.5%), Industrials (11.3%). 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 $936M 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 5.70% and a beta of 1.27 (more volatile than the broad market). Its 3-year Sharpe ratio of 1.11 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
2026-07-31	$32.74	$32.74	$32.58	$32.65	$32.65	26,171
2026-07-30	$32.67	$32.68	$32.57	$32.68	$32.68	18,684
2026-07-29	$32.76	$32.76	$32.49	$32.49	$32.49	26,298
2026-07-28	$32.73	$32.81	$32.65	$32.79	$32.79	27,132
2026-07-27	$32.82	$32.82	$32.67	$32.74	$32.74	23,068
2026-07-24	$32.57	$32.71	$32.57	$32.65	$32.65	21,714
2026-07-23	$32.58	$32.61	$32.52	$32.55	$32.55	22,341
2026-07-22	$32.82	$32.82	$32.75	$32.77	$32.77	16,193
2026-07-21	$32.68	$32.81	$32.66	$32.80	$32.80	20,163
2026-07-20	$32.78	$32.78	$32.62	$32.62	$32.62	18,412

#	Ticker	Name	Weight
1	VAB	Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond	34.64%
2	VUN	Vanguard US Total Market	18.52%
3	VCN	Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap	12.22%
4	VBG	Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE)	12.16%
5	VBU	Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF	11.62%
6	VIU	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North Amer Idx ETF	7.54%
7	VEE	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF	3.30%

Sector	Weight
Technology	24.43%
Financial Services	20.47%
Industrials	11.31%
Basic Materials	8.02%
Consumer Cyclicals	7.61%
Energy	7.59%
Communication Services	6.02%
Healthcare	5.90%
Consumer Defensive	4.02%
Utilities	2.52%
Real Estate	2.11%

Ticker	Name	Price	1D
AMZU		$28.46	+30.19%
AMHE-U	Harvest Amazon Enhanced High Income Shares ETF	$14.27	+16.68%
COID		$8.24	+16.38%
AMHE	Harvest Amazon Enhanced High Income Shares ETF - Class A Units	$14.70	+14.84%
ALPU		$19.24	+13.51%
AMZH-U	Harvest Amazon High Income Shares ETF	$13.87	+13.13%
MSFH-U	Harvest Microsoft Enhanced High Income Shares ETF	$9.48	+12.46%
PINV	Purpose Global Innovators Fund ETF	$31.26	+12.08%

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS : TSX)

CIBC Investor's Edge

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