Why choose Dynamic for equities?

Every day, Dynamic’s portfolio managers aim to build high conviction portfolios that deliver differentiated performance beyond the benchmark.

While some Canadian fund managers claim to be active, the reality is that they are actually "closet indexers" – charging fees for active management while passively mirroring an index. Unlike closet indexers and passive fund managers, Dynamic's legitimately active portfolio managers have the flexibility to:

Build concentrated, high conviction portfolios that look nothing like the index;

Exclude certain sectors, geographies or companies to better manage risk and aim to enhance returns;

Utilize capital market tools – such as options, hedges, futures and short-selling – to better manage volatility and aim to enhance returns;

Vary holdings to take advantage of emerging opportunities beyond the benchmark; and

Adjust cash levels during periods of market volatility

Our teams

The Managers employ a Quality at a Reasonable Price (QUARP®) investment approach that focuses on investing in a diversified portfolio of securities that pay a dividend or distribution while incorporating a capital preservation philosophy. Strict due diligence measures include both top-down and bottom-up analysis in determining security selection. Companies included in the portfolio represent best-in-class businesses that are dominant in their industry, have strong balance sheets and a history of increasing cash flows. Securities are purchased at a reasonable price which is defined as having an attractive valuation.

Meet our teams

The team uses a proprietary fundamental-based quantitative (“quantamental”) approach. The process favours companies that rank high on quality, value and growth metrics. Fundamental analysis is undertaken on attractive candidates prioritizing companies within industries believed to represent favourable opportunities based on prevailing macro conditions. Both fundamental analysis and quantitative tools are used to determine an investible universe. Options are then analyzed on the investible universe taking into consideration the fundamental view and incremental risk of the investment. The investable universe effectively consists of the more attractive stocks in the S&P 500 Index from a fundamental and quantitative perspective. 

The Core Global Equity Team’s investment process and philosophy takes an active, bottom-up approach to investing and seeks out the best investment opportunities around the world, based on the team’s thorough on-the-ground fundamental research. As bottom-up, fundamental investors, the Portfolio Managers do not seek to mirror the attributes of an index and instead build concentrated portfolios one company at a time based on their views of individual company attributes, sector/industry dynamics and attractive valuations.  
 
The Core Global Equity team employ their Six Principles framework, a set of guiding principles that helps shape and guide how they think as investors: 

  1. Investing, Not Renting

  2. Think Independently

  3. Tempered Temperament

  4. Pragmatic Patience

  5. Blend the Art and the Science

  6. Minimize Mistakes = Maximize Returns

The Power Growth Team maintains an unwavering commitment to a bottom-up investment process to deliver concentrated, high-conviction portfolios. The team employs a repeatable multi-step process to identify companies that have the potential to become significantly larger companies in the future. Key factors in the investment criteria include but are not limited to revenue and earnings growth, financial strength, and management assessment. A long-term focus and ongoing due diligence are integral aspects of the investment process across various strategies.

The Value Equity Team takes a conservative approach to investing in high-quality companies trading at a reasonable discount to their intrinsic value, with a clear focus on downside protection. To meet this objective, the team performs extensive fundamental research in order to assess a company's financial strength, competitive advantages, and management teams. Not afraid to deviate from the benchmark, the Value Equity Team are legitimately active managers aiming to deliver attractively valued portfolios that can help clients stay invested over the long-term.

Originally founded in 1955 as a research boutique, Jarislowsky Fraser now manages emerging market equities—portfolios that meet the needs of pension funds, foundations, endowments, corporations and high-net-worth individuals from around the world, gathering over CA$58 billion in assets under management. The team of over 60 investment professionals employ a fundamentally driven, long-term investment philosophy that focuses on high-quality, well-governed and sustainable businesses that aim to deliver long-term growth in a lower-risk manner. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia, Jarislowsky Fraser operates as a distinct business division – its investment approach and decision-making process are fully independent from the bank and its other asset management businesses.