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Compare iShares Balanced Income CorePortfolio Index ETF (XBAL) vs BMO Balanced ESG ETF (ZESG) to find the best fit for your portfolio. XBAL and ZESG provide the same top sector exposures: Finance, Technology, and Sovereign. When evaluating costs, XBAL features a management fee (MER) of 0.18%, compared to 0.18% for ZESG. Performance-wise, XBAL has returned 9.15% year-to-date with +$713 M in net flows, whereas ZESG is at 8.74% with +$3 M. Use the comparison tool below to benchmark these funds across top 10 holdings, yield, sector weights and historical returns.
NAV Performance and Flows
Key Data
Compare
XBAL
ZESG
| AuM | $3,525.91 M | $103.89 M |
| Management Fees | 0.18% | 0.18% |
| Exp. ratio | 0.18% | 0.20% |
| Tracking Difference | - | - |
Historical performance and flows
As of October 16, 2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XBAL | +1.10% | +0.59% | +9.15% | +10.00% | +54.09% |
ZESG | +1.85% | +1.14% | +8.74% | +9.57% | +54.05% | |
| Flows | XBAL | +$52 M | +$186 M | +$713 M | +$915 M | +$1,848 M |
ZESG | -$2 M | -$2 M | +$3 M | +$8 M | +$24 M |
XBAL vs ZESG exposure
Countries
XBAL
Canada
44.90%
USA
34.68%
Other
20.43%
ZESG
Canada
49.39%
USA
37.31%
Other
13.30%
Sectors
XBAL
Finance
23.44%
Technology
15.53%
Sovereign
12.71%
Municipal
7.44%
Industrials
7.17%
Other
33.71%
ZESG
Finance
22.16%
Technology
19.27%
Sovereign
10.86%
Municipal
9.98%
Other
37.72%
As of October 16, 2026
Top 10 Holdings
XBAL
NVIDIA Corp.
1.93%
Apple, Inc.
1.68%
Microsoft Corp.
1.36%
Royal Bank of Canada
1.16%
Amazon.com, Inc.
0.92%
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
0.82%
Shopify, Inc.
0.73%
Alphabet, Inc.
0.72%
Broadcom Inc.
0.63%
Alphabet, Inc.
0.57%
ZESG
NVIDIA Corp.
4.89%
Microsoft Corp.
3.53%
Canada, Bond 1.25 1jun2030 10Y
3.03%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.96%
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
1.84%
Shopify, Inc.
1.71%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.54%
Canada, Bonds 2% 1jun2032, CAD
1.51%
Canada, Bonds 1.5% 1dec2031 10Y
1.48%
Bank of Montreal
1.08%
Diversification
XBAL
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 21,879 total
10.53%
ZESG
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 1,511 total
22.57%
Characteristics
Compare
XBAL
ZESG
| Provider | iShares | BMO |
| Management | Actively managed | Actively managed |
| Benchmark | - | - |
| Replication Method | - | - |
| Asset Class | Equity, Fixed Income | Equity, Fixed Income |
| Dividend Policy | Distributing | Distributing |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | 2.25% | 1.83% |
| Meets ESG criteria | No | Yes |
| Inception Date | June 21, 2007 | January 16, 2020 |
Frequently asked questions about XBAL and ZESG
Which ETF has performed better year to date: XBAL or ZESG?
As of October 16, 2026, XBAL has returned 9.15% year to date, while ZESG has returned 8.74%. XBAL is ahead on YTD performance.
Which ETF is larger by assets under management: XBAL or ZESG?
As of October 16, 2026, XBAL manages $3.53 B in assets, while ZESG manages $103.89 M. XBAL is the larger fund by AUM.
How are XBAL and ZESG managed?
XBAL is actively managed by iShares. It does not track an index. ZESG is actively managed by BMO. It does not track an index.
What sectors do XBAL and ZESG emphasize?
XBAL is most exposed to Finance, Technology, and Sovereign. ZESG is most exposed to Finance, Technology, and Sovereign.
Which ETF is attracting more investor flows: XBAL or ZESG?
Year to date, XBAL has seen +$713.17 M in net flows, compared with +$2.80 M for ZESG. XBAL has attracted more net investor money so far.
How do the fees of XBAL and ZESG compare?
XBAL has an expense ratio of 0.18%, while ZESG has an expense ratio of 0.20%.
What are the top holdings of XBAL and ZESG?
XBAL's largest holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc., and Microsoft Corp.. ZESG's top holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Microsoft Corp., and Alphabet, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: XBAL or ZESG?
XBAL holds 21552 securities, while ZESG holds 1505. On holdings count, XBAL is the more diversified portfolio.
Recent articles about XBAL and ZESG
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