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 $32.80 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: +4.19%, 1-year: +13.31%, 3-year annualised: +10.87%, 5-year annualised: +5.42%. 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, 34.8%), Vanguard US Total Market (VUN, 18.4%), Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap (VCN, 12.3%), Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE) (VBG, 12.1%), Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (VBU, 11.4%) — 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 Financial Services (20.6%), Technology (20.4%), Industrials (11.6%). 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 $909M 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 5.73% 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
2026-07-13	$32.89	$32.89	$32.79	$32.80	$32.80	34,926
2026-07-10	$32.94	$33.00	$32.90	$32.99	$32.99	19,311
2026-07-09	$32.84	$32.97	$32.84	$32.93	$32.93	34,428
2026-07-08	$32.84	$32.84	$32.67	$32.81	$32.81	24,532
2026-07-07	$33.15	$33.15	$32.94	$32.97	$32.97	44,671
2026-07-06	$33.18	$33.18	$33.11	$33.15	$33.15	56,486
2026-07-03	$33.11	$33.19	$33.08	$33.19	$33.19	26,300
2026-07-02	$33.11	$33.11	$32.85	$32.98	$32.98	44,840
2026-06-30	$33.28	$33.29	$33.23	$33.28	$33.28	24,000
2026-06-29	$33.26	$33.26	$33.10	$33.24	$33.24	46,183

#	Ticker	Name	Weight
1	VAB	Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond	34.83%
2	VUN	Vanguard US Total Market	18.44%
3	VCN	Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap	12.34%
4	VBG	Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-hedged) (VBG.NE)	12.10%
5	VBU	Vanguard U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF	11.39%
6	VIU	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North Amer Idx ETF	7.63%
7	VEE	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF	3.26%

Sector	Weight
Financial Services	20.62%
Technology	20.36%
Industrials	11.64%
Energy	8.61%
Basic Materials	8.55%
Consumer Cyclicals	7.86%
Healthcare	6.66%
Communication Services	6.03%
Consumer Defensive	4.56%
Utilities	2.84%
Real Estate	2.25%

Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio (VCNS : TSX)

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Price Chart (30 Days)

Key Statistics

Recent Price History

Annualised Returns

Top 10 Holdings

Sector Weights

About Vanguard Conservative ETF Portfolio

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Frequently Asked Questions — VCNS