Investing on BMO InvestorLine? Buy These BMO ETFs for a Diversified Portfolio

I’ve had solid experiences using platforms like Wealthsimple and Interactive Brokers for Canadian and U.S. ETF investments, respectively. But it’s always worth paying attention when one of Canada’s big banks steps up its game, especially with features designed for investors of all experience levels.

BMO InvestorLine is a prime example. Not only do you get commission-free trading on some of Canada’s most popular ETFs, but the platform offers tools that go beyond the basics.

The new BMO Active Trader platform brings advanced capabilities, like multi-leg options, customizable screeners, and strategy builders—while real-time buying power calculations help you evaluate margin trades with confidence.

On top of that, BMO InvestorLine allows you to benchmark, customize, and track performance with easy-to-use analysis tools that make managing your portfolio a breeze.

BMO isn’t just a bank—it’s also home to a leading lineup of low-cost, passively managed ETFs that make building a diversified portfolio simple and affordable. If you’re trading on BMO InvestorLine, here are a few BMO ETFs worth considering for a globally diversified portfolio.

BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (ZSP)

60% of the portfolio goes to ZSP, giving you instant access to 500 large-cap U.S. stocks screened for earnings quality via the S&P 500 Index.

You probably know this index is notoriously hard to beat—SPIVA data shows that 88% of active funds underperform it over a 10-year period.

Currently, the S&P 500 has a heavy overweight to technology, followed by financials, consumer discretionary, and healthcare. Since it’s market-cap weighted, all of the Magnificent Seven stocks sit comfortably in the top 10 holdings.

ZSP has delivered a 15.23% annualized total return over the last 10 years, boosted by a falling Canadian dollar and rising U.S. dollar, as ZSP is unhedged. Keep in mind this performance already factors in the impact of the 15% foreign withholding tax on dividends.

BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETF (ZEA)

U.S. stocks have had a strong run, but they’re now quite expensive. If you want to diversify, it’s time to look internationally—which is why I’d allocate 30% to ZEA.

ZEA tracks the MSCI EAFE Index, which stands for Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It provides exposure to developed markets outside North America, including countries like Japan, the UK, France, Germany, and Australia.

Why ZEA? It shores up your non-North American exposure, holding 727 stocks across many developed markets. You get broad exposure to blue-chip financials, industrials, and healthcare companies, which are well-represented in the index.

The expense ratio is slightly higher at 0.22%, but that’s the price you pay for international diversification. It also comes with a decent 2.7% distribution yield, making it a solid option for income-oriented investors.

BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (ZCN)

Finally, we’ll round out our portfolio by incorporating a bit of home country bias, with ZCN making up 10% of the portfolio. This allocation is still three times Canada’s actual weight in the MSCI World Index.

ZCN tracks the S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index, a benchmark of 221 market-cap-weighted holdings. The “capped” part ensures no single stock exceeds 10% of the index at each rebalance.

The fund provides the typical Canadian sector exposure that complements U.S. and international holdings well—namely, overweights to financials and energy.

The best part about ZCN? It’s incredibly cheap, with a 0.06% MER, and offers a decent 2.71% distribution yield, most of which comes from tax-efficient eligible dividends.

Putting the portfolio together

With 60% in ZSP, 30% in ZEA, and 10% in ZCN, you’re diversified across over 1,000 stocks spanning the U.S., Canada, and EAFE markets, with a weighted average expense ratio of 0.13%.

From January 2015 to November 2024, this simple, low-cost portfolio—rebalanced quarterly—would have earned you a 12.36% annualized total return, more than tripling an initial $10,000 investment. That’s a strong performance for doing nothing more than buying and holding three index ETFs.