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 $32.54 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: +3.37%, 1-year: +5.23%, 3-year annualised: +12.22%, 5-year annualised: +4.85%. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The 3-year Sharpe ratio is 1.29, 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 2.38%, 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, 33.1%), Vanguard US Total Market (VUN, 19.2%), Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap (VCN, 12.2%), Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE) (VBG, 11.5%), Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VBU, 12.0%) — 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 (25.2%), Financial Services (21.0%), Industrials (10.9%). 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 $979M 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 6.14% and a beta of 1.27 (more volatile than the broad market). Its 3-year Sharpe ratio of 1.29 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
2026-10-22	$32.51	$32.54	$32.48	$32.54	$32.54	23,583
2026-10-21	$32.62	$32.65	$32.56	$32.62	$32.62	51,919
2026-10-20	$32.43	$32.60	$32.42	$32.51	$32.51	23,315
2026-10-19	$32.54	$32.54	$32.43	$32.45	$32.45	23,863
2026-10-16	$32.71	$32.72	$32.54	$32.59	$32.59	28,600
2026-10-15	$32.59	$32.71	$32.59	$32.71	$32.71	33,205
2026-10-14	$32.60	$32.61	$32.55	$32.59	$32.59	28,951
2026-10-13	$32.70	$32.73	$32.65	$32.71	$32.71	61,655
2026-10-09	$32.61	$32.72	$32.61	$32.71	$32.71	14,900
2026-10-08	$32.50	$32.52	$32.45	$32.52	$32.52	26,080

#	Ticker	Name	Weight
1	VAB	Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond	33.11%
2	VUN	Vanguard US Total Market	19.20%
3	VCN	Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap	12.23%
4	VBG	Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE)	11.51%
5	VBU	Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF	11.95%
6	VIU	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North Amer Idx ETF	7.60%
7	VEE	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF	3.22%

Sector	Weight
Technology	25.18%
Financial Services	21.01%
Industrials	10.92%
Basic Materials	8.09%
Energy	7.63%
Consumer Cyclicals	7.17%
Healthcare	6.56%
Communication Services	5.36%
Consumer Defensive	4.13%
Utilities	2.22%
Real Estate	2.09%

Ticker	Name	Price	1D
SOXD		$18.09	+20.44%
CGMD		$6.95	+16.03%
GASD		$5.54	+12.37%
GDXD	BetaPro Canadian Gold Miners -2x Daily Bear ETF	$9.75	+12.33%
SLVD	BetaPro Silver -2x Daily Bear ETF	$42.12	+11.75%
MSTZ		$1.97	+11.30%
CSUU		$12.05	+9.95%
QQQD		$7.28	+8.66%

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

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Frequently Asked Questions — VCNS