Below are a few of our recent fund updates. Log in or subscribe to see all of them.
RBC Canadian Equity Income Fund
The Globe and Mail ranks this fund as one of the funds offering the best “bang for your buck.” In reviewing it, it’s not hard to see why. It has consistently offered above average returns at a below average cost. It has also consistently ranked very high based on our proprietary fund valuation model for the past few years.
read moreCI Global Health Sciences Fund
As we pointed out in our last review in March 2012, volatility had been increasing which had been causing us some concern. While five months may not be a long enough period on which to judge, we have noticed that volatility appears to have stabilized, which provides us with some level of comfort and reinforces our view on the fund.
read moreFidelity Far East Fund
Henry Chan recently took over the management duties of this fund from Joseph Tse, who had been at the helm since July 2003. Under Mr. Chan’s management, there aren’t expected to be wholesale changes as both managers follow a similar process.
read moreTD Health Sciences Fund
One of our favourite funds in the sector is the TD Health Sciences Fund. It invests in companies that are involved in the research, development, production, or distribution of products or services related to health care, medicine, or the life sciences. To qualify for selection, companies must derive at least 50% of their assets, revenues, or operating profits from those activities. The manager tends to focus in the U.S. where nearly 81% of the fund is invested.
read moreBMO Guardian Asian Growth & Income Fund
The BMO Guardian Asian Growth & Income Fund is a great way for investors to access this growth story without taking on excessive volatility risk. While technically classified as an Asia Pacific Equity Fund, it is more of a balanced fund. As of July 31, it held 85% stocks, 13% bonds and 2% in cash.
read morePH&N Total Return Bond Fund
The PH&N Total Return Bond Fund has significant exposure to corporate bonds, holding nearly 49% of the fund in corporate bonds and 6% in Government of Canada bonds. The fund also has a healthy 32% exposure to provincial bonds, which offer high yields than Canada’s and should outperform in a rising rate environment. It has a shorter average term to maturity than the benchmark DEX Bond Universe, and nearly half the fund is in bonds with maturities of less than 5 years. It is a very high quality portfolio, with nearly 85% rated “A” or better.
read moreTD Short Term Bond Fund
With the current low interest rate environment, short term bond funds have become a great alternative to money market funds and GICs. Investing in diversified portfolio of bonds that mature in less than five years, these funds offer modest returns with very low risk. One of our favourites in the category is the TD Short Term Bond Fund.
read moreChou Associates Fund
Most mutual funds are pretty easy to classify. They typically have a relatively narrow mandate and tend to stick to it. The same cannot be said for many of the funds offered by Chou Associates. For example, the Chou Associates Fund is definitely hard to classify. If we look strictly at its holdings, it would be a global small cap fund. The reality of it is that manager Francis Chou runs it as a global equity fund with a go anywhere mandate and the ability to invest in companies of any size.
read moreCIBC Canadian Real Estate Fund
Many view real estate as an attractive asset class that can provide diversification within a portfolio due to its relatively low correlation to the equity markets. With real estate funds however, the diversification benefits may not be quite as high as many expect given that most will have significant holdings in REITs, which are often traded on the equity markets. Because of this, the correlation benefits may not be as high as investors may anticipate.
read moreBlack Creek Global Leaders Fund
Managed by Bill Kanko and Richard Jenkins, this fund was known as the Castlerock Global Leaders Fund until July 2012. Both Mr. Kanko and Mr. Jenkins made their names at Trimark and that footprint is evident in the investment process they use.
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