Key Takeaways
- When ETFs provide similar exposure, cost can be a key differentiator. Fees reduce returns, which is why comparing management fees and management expense ratios (MERs) matters, especially as total costs become more visible. Lower-fee funds tend to attract more investor flows and can improve long-term outcomes.
- Fee transparency is increasing with Total Cost Reporting under Client Relationship Model Phase 3 (CRM3). Beginning in 2026, firms have been compiling embedded fund costs so investor statements can show total ownership costs, including MERs, Trading Expense Ratios (TERs), and other fund expenses, alongside other data.
- Global X screened hundreds of Canadian-listed passive ETFs by their Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC) category, excluding duplicate share classes and U.S.-dollar versions, ranked peers by permanent management fee, and checked holdings overlap for comparability. Investors should also consider hidden frictions: currency conversion, hedging trade-offs, and foreign withholding taxes.
Fees are one of the most important variables investors can control. Performance is never guaranteed. But fees are.
ETF fees cover the day-to-day cost of running the fund, which includes portfolio management, operating expenses and taxes, and they show up in the MER as a percentage of your investment.
If everything else is equal, the MER can be a key factor. Operating expenses are deducted directly from an ETF’s assets, which reduces overall investor returns. A lower MER means a lower cost of ownership. Over time, those costs compound, creating a meaningful impact on long-term total returns.
That’s why fee comparison matters. Low cost is a major attraction when considering a particular ETF, and the evidence is clear that lower-fee funds tilt the odds toward better long-term outcomes.
Overall, fees have also been falling as investors migrate toward more cost-efficient passive strategies. A 10-year Morningstar study of Canadian fund fees found that investors increasingly preferred lower-cost options. With passive, index-tracking funds often offering comparable market exposure, cost became a key differentiator. As a result, lower-cost passive funds captured most industry assets and net flows, with the cheapest half accounting for the large majority of both assets and flows over the period.
What’s Driving the Fund Fee Conversation?
Fees are getting more attention across the industry as the third phase of the Client Relationship Model (CRM3) begins: Total Cost Reporting (TCR).
From January 1, 2026, investment firms have been compiling embedded fund costs so investor statements can show the total costs of owning an investment, such as an ETF, including MERs, TERs, and fund expense ratios (FERs). The first annual reports that include the full cost disclosure mandated by CRM3 will be delivered to investors in early 2027, reflecting the current calendar year.
The goal is straightforward: greater transparency. Investors won’t just be able to see what their ETF holds; they’ll be able to see what it truly costs to own.
Fees Can Impact Performance
Besides not wanting to pay more for the same product, why do fees matter? Because they can impact the total return of your investment.
Now, a few basis points may translate into only a small dollar impact depending on the amount of dollars invested. But if you increase the amount of money invested and allow for greater compounding over time, that difference magnifies.
In other instances, the management fee gap can be more significant. In some of the examples below, the cost difference of a competitor fund within the same category could be double or more than that of the selected Global X fund, underscoring how fee disparities can materially affect long-term outcomes.
Low-Cost ETFs from Global X
Without further ado, let’s take a look at how Global X fees stack up across a number of popular ETF categories.
Global X looked at over 300 Canadian-listed ETFs, applying a screening framework for Canadian-domiciled, index ETFs across categories and themes and built a peer set and ranked ETFs from lowest to highest management fee.
Canada’s Major Index: S&P/TSX 60
CNDX
We looked at passive ETFs that closely tracked the S&P/TSX 60™ Index. The Global X S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (CNDX ) has the lowest management fee* in the Canadian equity ETF category for funds providing full (100%) exposure to Canada’s largest companies, as at February 19, 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, CNDX’s management fee was permanently reduced to 0.09%. Prior to that, the annual management fee for CNDX was temporarily rebated to 0% in April through December 2025.
*Relative to the typical MER of comparable, regular mutual funds.
| ETF Name & Ticker | Management Fee | Index | Common Holdings to Index |
| Global X S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (CNDX) | 0.09%* | TSX 60™ Index | 100% |
| iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (XIU) | 0.15% | TSX 60™ Index | 100% |
| BMO S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (ZIU) | 0.15% | TSX 60™ Index | 100% |
* Plus applicable sales tax.
Source: Morningstar as at February 19, 2026
The other two ETFs listed in the table above have higher management fees.
U.S. Equities
QQQX
Comprising 100 of the largest non‑financial NASDAQ-listed companies, the NASDAQ‑100® Index provides exposure to leading growth and technology companies such as NVIDIA, Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft. The index also includes innovative U.S. and international companies active across the healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial sectors in the global economy.
Of the Canadian-listed ETFs below that track the index, the Global X NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (QQQX) is the lowest-cost* at 0.15% as at February 19, 2026.
*Relative to the typical MER of comparable, regular mutual funds.
| ETF Name & Ticker | Management Fee | Index | Common Holdings to Index |
| Global X NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (QQQX) | 0.15%* | Nasdaq-100® | 100% |
| Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQC) | 0.20% | Nasdaq-100® | 100% |
| BMO Nasdaq 100 Equity Index ETF (ZNQ) | 0.35% | Nasdaq-100® | 100% |
| iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU) | 0.35% | Nasdaq-100® | 100% |
* Plus applicable sales tax.
Source: Morningstar as at February 19, 2026
Canadian Sector ETFs – Our Leadership as a Low-Cost Provider
Global X has one of the country’s largest suites of ETFs, with more than 150 funds listed in Canada.
That includes our Equity Essentials ETFs – like CNDX and QQQX highlighted above – as well as our “Best of Canada” ETFs, which provide exposure to Canada’s largest, most liquid companies in our essential sectors.
Across the eight ETFs within our Best of Canada suite listed below, we’re proud to have the lowest-cost ETF in the specific sector exposure in the respective category or in some instances, be the only provider of that specific exposure in Canada.
Let’s start with a deeper dive into one of Canada’s largest sectors: Canadian Banks.
HBNK
As one of Canada’s largest economic sectors, Canada’s Big Six Banks have traditionally offered a stable bastion within the broader Canadian equity landscape. They have a long history of stability, steady earnings, and consistent dividends.
Three ETFs in Canada directly track the Solactive Equal Weight Canada banks Index. Of them, the Global X Equal Weight Canadian Banks Index ETF (HBNK) is the lowest-cost* Canadian bank ETF at 0.09% as at February 19, 2026.
*Relative to the typical MER of comparable, regular mutual funds.
| ETF Name & Ticker | Management Fee | Index | Common Holdings to Index |
| Global X Equal Weight Canadian Banks Index ETF (HBNK) | 0.09%* | Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index | 100% |
| Hamilton Canadian Bank Equal-Weight Index ETF (HEB) | 0.19% | Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index | 100% |
| BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF (ZEB) | 0.25% | Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index | 100% |
* Plus applicable sales tax.
Source: Morningstar as at February 19, 2026
Across the other sectors within our Best of Canada suite, here’s how we stack up:
| Canadian Sector | Global X ETF | Management Fee of Global X ETF | Management Fee of Competitor Indexed ETFs with Similar Sector Exposure |
| REITs | Global X Equal Weight Canadian REITs Index ETF (REIT) | 0.25% | 0.35% – 0.55% |
| Energy | Global X Equal Weight Canadian Oil & Gas Index ETF (NRGY) | 0.40% | 0.55% |
| Global X Equal Weight Canadian Pipelines Index ETF (PPLN) | 0.25% | ||
| Telecommunications | Global X Equal Weight Canadian Telecommunications Index ETF (RING) | 0.25% | N/A – Canada’s Only |
| Insurance | Global X Equal Weight Canadian Insurance Index ETF (SAFE) | 0.25% | N/A – Canada’s Only |
| Groceries & Staples | Global X Equal Weight Canadian Groceries & Staples Index ETF (MART) | 0.25% | 0.55% |
* Plus applicable sales tax.
Source: Morningstar as at February 19, 2026
High-Interest Savings ETFs – A Popular Cash Management Tool for Canadians
CASH
Among the three pure high-interest savings ETFs available to Canadian investors, the Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH) stands out on both cost and scale. With a management fee of just 0.10%, it is the lowest-cost* option in its category as at February 19, 2026. In addition, with approximately $6.9 billion in assets under management, it is also the largest high-interest savings ETF in Canada (Source: Global X, as at February 20, 2026).
*Relative to the typical MER of comparable, regular mutual funds.
| ETF Name & Ticker | Management Fee |
| Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH) | 0.10%* |
| CI High Interest Savings ETF (CSAV) | 0.14% |
| Evolve High Interest Savings Account Fund (HISA) | 0.14% |
| Purpose High Interest Savings Fund (PSA) | 0.15% |
* Plus applicable sales tax.
Source: Morningstar as at February 19, 2026
Note: CASH uses cash accounts and does not track a traditional benchmark, but rather receives interest paid on cash deposits that can change over time. CASH primarily invests in Canadian bank deposit accounts.
Overseas Fees
Investing outside Canada can enhance diversification, but it may also add extra costs and complexity. In some cases, ETFs listed in the U.S. may offer a lower fee on a particular exposure, but there are hidden costs that are worth considering. For instance, investors may incur currency exchange costs when exchanging Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars. Currency exposure can also distort returns. Investing outside Canada can also mean withholding taxes on foreign income, such as dividends and interest.
Lower fees can improve the odds of better long-term outcomes and steady declines in MERs show investors are paying attention. With Total Cost Reporting, it should be easier and more transparent to compare what you pay to own an ETF. But cost isn’t just the sticker price: currency conversion, hedging trade-offs, and foreign withholding taxes can all meaningfully impact overall returns, especially when investing through U.S.-listed products.
Relevant ETFs:
Global X S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (CNDX)
Global X NASDAQ-100 Index ETF (QQQX)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Banks Index ETF (HBNK)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Oil & Gas Index ETF (NRGY)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Telecommunications Index ETF (RING)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Insurance Index ETF (SAFE)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Groceries & Staples Index ETF (MART)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian Pipelines Index ETF (PPLN)
Global X High Interest Savings ETF (CASH)
Global X Equal Weight Canadian REITs Index ETF (REIT)
Note: Our Methodology
For each ticker, we applied the same screening framework across all ETFs reviewed. For every Global X ticker, we first identified its CIFSC category, then screened for Canadian-domiciled, passively managed ETFs within that same category.