TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. and AlphaPro Management Inc. (collectively "Horizons ETFs") are proud to announce that the firm won two ETF awards at the 20th Annual Morningstar Canadian Investment Awards held in Toronto on November 26, 2014. The Horizons Active Global Dividend ETF ("HAZ") won Best Equity ETF and the Horizons Active Preferred Share ETF ("HPR") won Best Fixed Income ETF.
"Each year, ETFs have become a larger part of the Morningstar Awards, which we think reflects how important this investment class has become to Canadians," said Howard Atkinson, President of Horizons ETFs and Chair of the Canadian ETF Association. "Active management within ETFs is also becoming more recognized by the industry and the two actively managed ETFs we won awards for are a testament to that."
Actively managed ETFs, as the name suggests, combine traditional active management, commonly used in the mutual fund industry, with the low cost and efficiency of an ETF structure. Horizons ETFs is the largest provider of actively managed ETFs in Canada, overseeing roughly $2.2 billion in assets under management amongst its 27 active ETFs, as at October 31, 2014.
Named Best Equity ETF, HAZ is sub-advised by Guardian Capital LP ("Guardian") and focuses on achieving global dividend yields using Guardian's proprietary GPS (Growth, Payout, Sustainability) approach. Guardian, based in Toronto, has assets under management of more than $23 billion as at September 30, 2014.
"Investors want more than simple dividend yields, they want to know those yields are sustainable and growing," said Mr. Atkinson. "It is the GPS approach to dividend investing in HAZ that has allowed it to perform so well over the past four years."
"Guardian is extremely proud to have partnered with Horizons ETFs in this opportunity for making global outperformance easy to access for every day investors," said Sri Iyer, Managing Director, Head of Global Systematic Strategies, Guardian. "HAZ is a product that reflects our values as a firm and our ambitions as portfolio managers. By combining global diversity with risk-adjusted yield, we are pleased that HAZ has provided investors with an attractive rate of return since the ETF's inception in 2010."
HPR is sub-advised by Fiera Capital Corporation ("Fiera"), one of the largest Canadian managers in the preferred share market with over $2.7 billion in preferred assets as at September 30, 2014. HPR's win follows last year's win in the same category by the Horizons Active Floating Rate Bond ETF ("HFR") which is also sub-advised by Fiera.
"Of the products we offer, HPR is probably the one that best demonstrates the value of active management combined with an ETF structure. Preferred shares in Canada are a relatively small securities market compared to broad equities and bonds. Fiera's knowledge of this specialized asset class has resulted in a phenomenal four-year track record of performance," said Mr. Atkinson.
The Horizons Active Dividend ETF ("HAL"), sub-advised by Guardian, and the Horizons Active High Yield Bond ETF ("HYI"), sub-advised by Fiera, were finalists in the Best Equity ETF and Best Fixed Income ETF categories, respectively. Horizons ETFs was also a finalist in the Best ETF Initiative category for its Model Portfolio Builder program under the submission "What's Your Risk Number?"
Horizons ETFs' Model Portfolio Builder, developed in partnership with PŮR Investing Inc. ("PŮR"), is a free, online tool that investment advisors can use to build constant-risk customized portfolios for their clients. Each model portfolio uses PŮR's proprietary software to create a customized portfolio based on a know-your-client questionnaire, which then calculates a 'Risk Number' and uses it as its constant variable.
"Mark Yamada and the team at PŮR are recognized pioneers in both portfolio risk management and in using ETFs in a portfolio," said Mr. Atkinson. "Our Model Portfolio Builder gives the Canadian advisor community access to PŮR's cutting edge portfolio management techniques, allowing advisors and clients to rethink their perspective of risk and use it to potentially boost returns in their portfolios."
The winner of each Morningstar Award was selected by a jury of analysts from the ETF community. To be considered for an individual award, a broad range of factors are considered, including performance, focusing on the three-year return history, the quantitative performance on an absolute basis, as well as various measures of risk and diversification benefits. The jury also weighs qualitative factors such as management quality, availability and fee structure.
About Fiera Capital Corporation (www.FieraCapital.com)
Fiera Capital Corporation is a leading publicly traded, independent investment firm. The firm is one of only a handful of full-service, multi-product investment firms in Canada, offering clients a proven top tier track record in equity and fixed income management as well as depth and expertise in asset allocation and alternative investments.
About Guardian Capital LP (www.GuardianCapital.com)
Guardian Capital LP is the manager and portfolio manager of the Guardian Capital Funds. In addition to the Guardian Capital Funds, Guardian Capital LP manages portfolios for defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments and third-party mutual funds. It is part of the Guardian Capital Group, a diversified financial services company founded in 1962.
About PŮR Investing Inc. (www.PŮRinvesting.com)
PŮR Investing Inc. is a Toronto-based portfolio manager specializing in investment solutions for individual investors. In Canada, PŮR's investment team has one of the longest track records of building ETF portfolios and remains at the vanguard of research in ETFs for individuals. PŮR's approach to designing Model Portfolios using ETFs is unique among private client managers. Each Model Portfolio is designed to manage risk in two ways. First, when market volatility is within a range of historical averages, diversification is used to control risk. Secondly, when volatility is historically high or low, PŮR uses its proprietary constant risk management strategy to tactically adjust the portfolio's asset allocation to keep the portfolio's risk exposure consistent with its specified risk rating.
About Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. (www.HorizonsETFs.com)
Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. and its affiliate AlphaPro Management Inc. are innovative financial services companies offering the Horizons ETFs family of exchange traded funds. The Horizons ETFs family includes a broadly diversified range of investment tools with solutions for investors of all experience levels to meet their investment objectives in a variety of market conditions. Horizons ETFs has more than $4.8 billion of assets under management and with 72 ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (as at November 18, 2014), the Horizons ETFs family makes up one of the largest families of ETFs in Canada. Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. and AlphaPro Management Inc. are members of the Mirae Asset Global Investments Group.
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in exchange traded products managed by AlphaPro Management Inc. and Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. (the "Horizons Exchanged Traded Products"). The Horizons Exchange Traded Products are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. The prospectus contains important detailed information about each Horizons Exchange Traded Product. Please read the applicable prospectus before investing.
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SOURCE Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc.
