Buying ETFs in Canada Tool: The MoneySense ETF Screener

Why It Matters

The screener gives Canadian investors transparent, comparable data to make cost‑efficient, performance‑driven ETF choices, a critical edge in a rapidly expanding ETF market.

Key Takeaways

• Tool lists 100 Canadian ETFs by 1‑year return.
• Data sourced from CBOE, covering expense ratios and fees.
• Includes equity, bond, crypto, and leveraged ETF categories.
• Enables investors to compare performance, risk, and costs.
• Top performers include ONEC (17.65%) and ZDJ (10.81%).

Pulse Analysis

Canada’s ETF landscape has exploded over the past decade, with assets under management now exceeding CAD 300 billion. In this environment, investors need granular data to cut through the noise, and MoneySense’s new screener delivers exactly that. By aggregating CBOE‑provided metrics—expense ratios, management fees, benchmarks, and multi‑period returns—the tool functions as a one‑stop shop for both novice and seasoned portfolio builders seeking to benchmark options across the market.

A quick scan of the top‑100 list reveals several notable trends. Equity‑focused funds dominate the high‑return segment, but the presence of crypto‑linked ETFs (e.g., CI Galaxy Bitcoin) and leveraged products (e.g., BetaPro 2x NASDAQ‑100) underscores a growing appetite for higher‑risk, higher‑reward strategies. Meanwhile, expense ratios remain tightly clustered around 0.1‑0.5% for traditional equity and bond ETFs, suggesting cost‑conscious investors still favor low‑fee vehicles despite the allure of niche offerings.

For investors, the real value lies in using the screener as a decision‑support layer within a broader portfolio construction framework. By juxtaposing cost, performance, and asset class exposure, users can identify funds that align with specific risk tolerances and return objectives, whether building a core “couch‑potato” allocation or tailoring a thematic tilt. As the Canadian ETF market continues to mature, tools that surface transparent, comparable data will become indispensable for achieving diversified, cost‑efficient portfolios.