If you want the broader shortlist before picking a specific fund, start with best all-in-one ETFs in Canada.
VEQT at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio |
| Ticker | VEQT |
| Provider | Vanguard Canada |
| Inception | January 2019 |
| MER | 0.24% |
| Asset allocation | 100% equities |
| Number of holdings | 13,000+ (through underlying ETFs) |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly |
| Distribution yield | ~1.7% |
| Eligible accounts | TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, FHSA, RESP, non-registered |
| Exchange | TSX |
Asset Allocation
That 100% stock mix only makes sense if it matches your timeline and risk tolerance, which we break down in asset allocation by age.
| Region | Allocation | Underlying ETF |
|---|---|---|
| US equities | ~42% | VUN (Vanguard US Total Market) |
| Canadian equities | ~30% | VCN (Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap) |
| International developed | ~20% | VIU (Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex NA) |
| Emerging markets | ~8% | VEE (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets) |
Performance
| Period | VEQT Return |
|---|---|
| 1 year | ~18-22%* |
| 3 years (annualized) | ~8-10%* |
| 5 years (annualized) | ~9-11%* |
| Since inception (2019) | ~10-12%* |
Returns are approximate. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Growth of $10,000
| Time Horizon | At 8% | At 10% |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $14,693 | $16,105 |
| 10 years | $21,589 | $25,937 |
| 20 years | $46,610 | $67,275 |
| 30 years | $100,627 | $174,494 |
Fees Comparison
| ETF | MER | Cost on $100K/Year |
|---|---|---|
| XEQT | 0.20% | $200 |
| VEQT | 0.24% | $240 |
| ZEQT | 0.20% | $200 |
| Avg mutual fund | 2.00% | $2,000 |
The $40/year difference between VEQT and XEQT on $100K is negligible.
VEQT vs Alternatives
| Feature | VEQT | XEQT | VGRO | XGRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equities | 100% | 100% | 80% | 80% |
| Bonds | 0% | 0% | 20% | 20% |
| MER | 0.24% | 0.20% | 0.24% | 0.20% |
| Canadian allocation | 30% | 24% | 24% | 19% |
| Best for | Aggressive growth | Aggressive growth | Balanced growth | Balanced growth |
If you are comparing the two all-equity options directly, use XEQT vs VEQT.
Top Holdings (Through Underlying ETFs)
| Company | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Apple | ~3.5% |
| Microsoft | ~3.3% |
| NVIDIA | ~2.5% |
| Amazon | ~2.0% |
| Royal Bank of Canada | ~1.5% |
| Toronto-Dominion Bank | ~1.2% |
| Shopify | ~0.7% |
| Alphabet (Google) | ~1.5% |
| Meta | ~1.0% |
| Broadcom | ~0.8% |
Who Should Buy VEQT
| Profile | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Long-term growth (10+ years) | ✅ Ideal |
| Want more Canadian exposure | ✅ Better than XEQT (30% vs 24%) |
| High risk tolerance | ✅ Yes |
| One-ETF portfolio | ✅ Yes |
| Moderate risk | ⚠️ Consider VGRO (80/20) |
| Near retirement | ⚠️ Consider VBAL (60/40) |
| Short-term savings | ❌ Use HISA or GICs |
How to Buy VEQT
| Platform | Commission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wealthsimple | $0 | Easiest, recurring buys |
| Questrade | $0 (ETF buys) | Best for larger accounts |
| Interactive Brokers | ~$1 | Lowest margin rates |
| TD Direct Investing | $9.99 | Free with certain accounts |
Tax Considerations
| Account | Treatment |
|---|---|
| TFSA | Tax-free growth and withdrawals |
| RRSP | Tax-deferred; US withholding tax recovered |
| Non-registered | Dividends taxed annually; capital gains on sale |
RRSP advantage: US dividends in VEQT benefit from the Canada-US tax treaty, recovering the 15% withholding tax. This doesn’t apply in TFSA.
For the withholding-tax details behind that tradeoff, see tax on US ETFs in Canada.
VEQT pros and cons
Pros:
- Instant global diversification across 13,000+ stocks in one fund
- Low 0.24% MER for what is effectively four ETFs in one
- 100% equity — no return-diluting bonds for long-term investors
- Available at every major Canadian brokerage
- Quarterly distributions; eligible for DRIP
Cons:
- No bonds — 100% equity means 40–50%+ drawdowns in major crashes (2020, 2022)
- Canada overweight (~30%) relative to Canada’s 3% of global markets
- 0.24% MER is slightly higher than XEQT (0.20%)
- Unhedged currency exposure (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, etc.)
Best for: Long-term investors with a 10+ year time horizon who want maximum simplicity and global diversification without ever rebalancing.
Frequently asked questions
VEQT or XEQT: which is better? Both are excellent one-fund equity ETFs. XEQT (0.20% MER) is slightly cheaper and has a marginally different regional weighting (less Canada, more US). VEQT costs 0.24% but has broader coverage through Vanguard’’s underlying funds. The difference in cost over 20 years on $100,000 is approximately $2,000 — meaningful but not critical. Most investors should just pick one and hold it consistently.
Can I hold VEQT forever? Yes — many passive investors do exactly this. The portfolio rebalances automatically as global market caps shift. You never need to manually rebalance or add new funds. The only time you would change is if your risk tolerance or time horizon changes (e.g., approaching retirement and wanting to add bonds).
Is VEQT good for a TFSA? Yes. VEQT in a TFSA means all growth — including US and international dividends — compounds tax-free. There is a small withholding tax drag (~0.20–0.30%) on the US and international components, but this is embedded in the fund and is a minor cost versus the tax-free growth benefit.