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TD Canadian Small Cap Equity Fund
Fund Company TD Asset Management Fund Type Canadian Small / Mid Cap Equity Rating A Style Growth Risk Level Medium High Load Status No Load / Optional RRSP/RRIF Suitability Good TFSA Suitability Good Manager Gord MacDougall since October 2005 Gary Baker since October 2005 MER 2.54% Code TDB 628 – No Load Units TDB 825 – Front End Units TDB 835 – DSC Units Minimum Investment $500 Analysis: Small cap stocks have been on quite a tear of late, and this Connor, Clark & Lunn managed offering has been one of the best performing funds. For the...
read moreAGF Canadian Asset Allocation Fund
Fund Company AGF Investments Fund Type Canadian Neutral Balanced Rating F Style Blend Risk Level Medium Load Status Optional RRSP/RRIF Suitability Fair TFSA Suitability Fair Manager Michael White since January 2010 Brian Madden since November 2013 MER 2.70% Code AGF 280 – Front End Units AGF 980 – DSC Units Minimum Investment $500 Analysis: With roots dating back to 1931, this is one of Canada’s oldest funds. Today, the fund is managed by the team of Michael White and Brian Madden using a mix of top down macro analysis and bottom up security...
read moreInvesco International Growth Class
Fund Company Invesco Canada Ltd. Fund Type International Equity Rating B Style Large Cap Growth Risk Level Medium Load Status Optional RRSP/RRIF Suitability Good TFSA Suitability Good Manager Clas Olsson since July 2000 Jason Holzer since July 2000 MER 2.94% Code AIM 633 – Front End Units AIM 631 – DSC Units Minimum Investment $500 Analysis: This non-north American equity fund is managed by Clas Olsson and his Austin, Texas based team using a bottom up stock selection process that they refer to as “earnings, quality and valuation”, or EQV....
read moreNEI Ethical Global Dividend
This go anywhere fund managed by KC Parker of Beutel Goodman looks for high quality, profitable companies that generate high levels of free cash flow that is either reinvested back into the business, or returned to shareholders through share buybacks or a dividends. Ethical is a very active shareholder and encourages companies to improve their environmental, social and governance practices through dialogue, shareholder resolutions and proxy voting. They are not afraid to take action if a company does not want to play ball. My biggest concern...
read moreNEI Ethical Special Equity Fund
Managed by Joe Jugovic and Ian Cooke of Calgary based QV Investors, this small cap fund is virtually identical to the IA Clarington Canadian Small Cap Fund. The biggest difference between the two is the management team submits investment ideas to Ethical Funds who put the prospective company through their rigorous environmental, social and governance screens. Assuming it passes, it is allowed into the fund. Performance, particularly on a risk-adjusted basis, has been impressive, although, this fund has begun to lag the Clarington offering....
read moreNEI Ethical Canadian Equity Fund
Being one of the largest equity focused SRI funds in Canada, it is also one of the more attractive offerings. It is managed by Calgary based QV Investors who invest in companies with above average returns on equity capital, but whose shares trade below market valuations. Performance has been strong, with a three year gain of 8.4%, handily outpacing both the index and its competition. Volatility has also been kept well in check. Considering the management team at the helm and the process used, I expect this to continue to be a very solid...
read moreRBC Jantzi Canadian Equity Fund
This fund invest only in Canadian companies that have strong corporate governance polices, stellar environmental records, and exemplary human rights practices. It avoids companies that are involved in weapons, tobacco, or nuclear power. The result is a well-diversified portfolio that has modestly outpaced the broader market on a one and three year basis, with comparable volatility. The biggest downside is the portfolio looks very similar to the S&P/TSX Composite. Investors may be better off investing in the iShares Jantzi Social Index...
read moreiShares Jantzi Social Index ETF
This is one of only three SRI ETFs available in Canada and it is designed to track the Jantzi Social Index, which looks to invest in the large Canadian companies that have passed various screens for environmental, social, and governance factors. The index excludes any companies that are involved in nuclear power, military weapons, and tobacco. Despite the low level of assets, currently at a paltry $25 million, there are a couple of reasons to like this ETF. The cost is very reasonable with an MER of 0.55%. Performance has also been strong,...
read moreNEI Ethical Select Growth Portfolio
Similar to the Meritas offering discussed above, this is set up as a fund of funds portfolio that invests in a well-diversified mix of NEI funds. It is heavily tilted towards equities, which make up approximately three quarters of the fund. Performance has been more than respectable, gaining an annualized 6.3% for the three years ending February 28, handily outpacing the S&P/TSX Composite Index and many of its peers. Volatility has also been firmly in check, making this a very solid SRI offering.
read moreMeritas Growth Portfolio
Investing in a mix of other Meritas funds, this portfolio is heavily tilted towards equities. The target mix is 20% fixed income, 35% Canadian equity, and 25% U.S. equity with the balance in international equities. Even with such a high equity weighting, the portfolio’s volatility has been well below the benchmark and the peer group. This is a very respectable SRI offering, particularly for those looking for a well-diversified, one ticket solution.
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