If you want the broader shortlist before choosing a Canadian dividend fund, start with best dividend ETFs in Canada.
XEI is BlackRock’s answer to Vanguard’s VDY — a Canadian high-dividend ETF that offers slightly better diversification across sectors while delivering a higher yield (~4.8% vs VDY’s ~4.5%). With roughly 75 holdings compared to VDY’s 40, XEI spreads its bets more broadly across financials, energy, utilities, telecoms, and real estate, reducing the concentration risk that comes with VDY’s heavy bank weighting. For income-focused investors who want monthly Canadian dividend income at a 0.22% MER but prefer not to bet 45% of their portfolio on the Big Five banks, XEI is the stronger choice.
XEI at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF |
| Ticker | XEI |
| Provider | BlackRock (iShares) |
| Inception | April 2011 |
| MER | 0.22% |
| Distribution yield | ~4.8% |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly |
| Number of holdings | ~75 |
| Exchange | TSX |
Top Holdings
| Company | Sector | Weight (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Enbridge | Pipeline | ~6% |
| Royal Bank | Financials | ~5% |
| Toronto-Dominion Bank | Financials | ~5% |
| Canadian Natural Resources | Energy | ~5% |
| Bank of Nova Scotia | Financials | ~4% |
| TC Energy | Pipeline | ~4% |
| BCE | Telecom | ~3% |
| Pembina Pipeline | Pipeline | ~3% |
| Manulife | Financials | ~3% |
| CIBC | Financials | ~3% |
Sector Breakdown
| Sector | XEI | VDY |
|---|---|---|
| Financials | ~35% | ~55% |
| Energy | ~25% | ~25% |
| Utilities | ~10% | ~7% |
| Telecom | ~8% | ~8% |
| Real estate | ~5% | ~2% |
| Other | ~17% | ~3% |
XEI is more diversified across sectors than VDY, which is bank-heavy.
XEI’s broader sector exposure means it holds meaningful positions in utilities (10%), real estate (5%), and a wider range of energy companies beyond VDY’s pipeline-heavy approach. In practice, this diversification slightly reduces the fund’s correlation to Canadian bank earnings and interest rate cycles. The trade-off is that XEI’s top holdings carry less weight individually, so the strong performance of any single stock (like Royal Bank) has less impact on your total return. For most dividend investors, either XEI or VDY will serve you well — the bigger decision is how much of your portfolio should be allocated to Canadian dividends versus global diversification.
If you want more global balance around that income sleeve, pair this with best international ETFs in Canada and best bond ETFs in Canada.
Dividend Income
| Investment | Annual Income (~4.8%) | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,400 | $200 |
| $100,000 | $4,800 | $400 |
| $200,000 | $9,600 | $800 |
| $500,000 | $24,000 | $2,000 |
XEI vs VDY vs ZDV
| Feature | XEI | VDY | ZDV |
|---|---|---|---|
| MER | 0.22% | 0.22% | 0.39% |
| Yield | ~4.8% | ~4.5% | ~4.5% |
| Holdings | ~75 | ~40 | ~50 |
| Bank weight | ~35% | ~45% | ~35% |
| Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Diversification | Most diversified | Concentrated | Middle |
Who Should Buy XEI
| Profile | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Want monthly dividend income | ✅ Ideal |
| Prefer sector diversification over VDY | ✅ Yes |
| Retiree income portfolio | ✅ Great fit |
| Want pure bank exposure | ⚠️ VDY has more banks |
| Growth investor | ⚠️ XEQT/VEQT may be better |
If you are building for cash flow rather than maximum total return, compare best ETFs for retirement income in Canada.
The Bottom Line
XEI is the best Canadian dividend ETF for investors who want high monthly income with more sector diversification than VDY offers. The 4.8% yield, 75 holdings, and 0.22% MER make it an efficient core income position. Like all Canadian dividend ETFs, it’s heavily tilted toward financials and energy — just less so than VDY. Pair it with international exposure and perhaps a bond allocation for a properly balanced retirement income portfolio, rather than relying on Canadian dividends alone.
XEI pros and cons
Pros:
- Higher yield (~4.8%) than VDY (~4.5%) and XDIV (~4.5%)
- More diversified: ~75 holdings vs XDIV’’s ~20 and VDY’’s ~40
- Less financials concentration (~35%) than VDY (~55%)
- Monthly distributions — regular income for retirees and income investors
- Includes telecoms, utilities, real estate, pipelines — broader sector coverage
- Eligible Canadian dividends qualify for the dividend tax credit in non-registered accounts
Cons:
- Still Canada-only — no international diversification
- Energy + financials still dominate (~60% combined)
- 0.22% MER — higher than VCN (0.05%) or XIC (0.06%) if total return is your goal
- Lower long-term total return than a global equity ETF
Best for: Income-focused Canadian investors who want high monthly dividends with better sector diversification than VDY or XDIV. Good pairing with an international or global equity ETF for diversification.