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 $32.42 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: +2.99%, 1-year: +7.50%, 3-year annualised: +11.57%, 5-year annualised: +5.02%. 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, 34.7%), Vanguard US Total Market (VUN, 18.4%), Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap (VCN, 12.5%), Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE) (VBG, 12.1%), 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 (22.9%), Financial Services (22.4%), Industrials (11.4%). 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 $974M 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
2026-10-01	$32.43	$32.44	$32.11	$32.42	$32.42	37,300
2026-09-30	$32.67	$32.67	$32.57	$32.57	$32.57	30,800
2026-09-29	$32.75	$32.75	$32.57	$32.62	$32.62	50,074
2026-09-28	$32.70	$32.70	$32.59	$32.67	$32.67	42,757
2026-09-25	$32.75	$32.83	$32.68	$32.82	$32.82	33,132
2026-09-24	$32.74	$32.74	$32.62	$32.68	$32.68	17,049
2026-09-23	$32.98	$32.98	$32.71	$32.73	$32.73	61,191
2026-09-22	$32.95	$33.06	$32.95	$33.04	$33.04	37,858
2026-09-21	$32.79	$32.93	$32.78	$32.92	$32.92	19,476
2026-09-18	$32.76	$32.76	$32.64	$32.67	$32.67	13,288

Sector	Weight
Technology	22.94%
Financial Services	22.43%
Industrials	11.40%
Energy	7.87%
Consumer Cyclicals	7.55%
Basic Materials	7.09%
Healthcare	6.28%
Communication Services	5.63%
Consumer Defensive	4.15%
Utilities	2.51%
Real Estate	2.15%

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MSTE	Harvest MicroStrategy Enhanced High Income Shares ETF - Class A Units	$2.85	+4.40%
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HND	BetaPro Natural Gas 2x Daily Bear	$24.40	+4.01%

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

7 stocks to buy and hold forever

Compare VCNS

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Frequently Asked Questions — VCNS