Topic: ETFs

iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF isn’t a buy

A Member of Pat McKeough’s Inner Circle recently asked for his advice on a fund that tracks the MSCI Canada High Dividend Yield 10% Security Capped Index.

Pat likes the low MER and solid 3.8% yield, but can’t recommend the fund due to the “capped” aspect of its mandate which forces it to rebalance its portfolio every quarter.

iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF (Symbol XDIV on Toronto; www.blackrock.com.ca), tracks the MSCI Canada High Dividend Yield 10% Security Capped Index.

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This index aims to invest in Canadian stocks with above-average dividend yields and steady or increasing dividends. It also targets stocks with strong overall financials, including solid balance sheets and less volatile earnings. The weight of any one stock in the portfolio is capped at 10%.

The industry breakdown of companies in the fund is as follows: Financials (57.9%); Energy (14.9%), Utilities (12.1%), Materials (8.7%) and Communications (5.8%). Investors who hold this ETF should adjust their overall portfolios to counterbalance the fund’s heavy concentration in Finance.

The ETF’s top investments are in TC Energy, 9.7%; TD Bank, 8.7%; Royal Bank, 8.7%; Nutrien, 8.7%; CIBC, 8.7%; Scotiabank, 8.7%; Manulife, 8.3%; Sun Life, 6.9%; Fortis, 4.6%; and Power Corporation, 4.1%.

The fund launched in July 2017 and charges a 0.11% MER. The ETF yields 3.8%.

Inner Circle: Capping is not a positive for this fund

All of the ETF’s top 10 stocks are among our recommendations, and we like most of the other stocks it holds. However, the “capped” aspect of its mandate introduces a filtering mechanism: the fund doesn’t let any one holding rise above 10%. The ETF rebalances its portfolio every quarter, and if a stock has risen above that 10% threshold, it sells enough shares to bring it below the cap. It then allocates the proceeds to other holdings.

We don’t see the capping provision as a positive—it could force the fund to sell off shares of some of its biggest winners. That means it will miss out on continuing gains for its top performers once those reach the maximum allocation for individual stock holdings.

Recommendation in Pat’s Inner Circle: iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF is not recommended.

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