Cambridge Canadian Dividend Fund – What are you getting today?

To say we’ve been living in interesting times is an understatement. This past year has seen:

    • A global pandemic.
    • The fastest gross domestic product (GDP) contraction on record.
    • The sharpest rise of unemployment on record.
    • Elevated civil unrest in numerous countries around the world.
    • A complete change in how we live our daily lives.
    • Record government support and stimulus programs.
    • Near record low interest rates.
    • Enormous levels of price volatility across asset classes.

These are unprecedented times and we believe it is difficult, if not impossible, to know exactly what lies ahead. In this time of uncertainty, we believe Cambridge Canadian Dividend Fund is an attractive option to include as a part of an overall investment strategy. Protecting and compounding investor capital over time is this fund’s objective, and in a period of elevated valuations, record low interest rates and continued uncertainty, these objectives are as critical as ever. The Cambridge Canadian equity team aims to accomplish these objectives by:

1. Owning a collection of high-quality businesses.
2. Owning these businesses at a reasonable price.                        
3. Owning our best ideas while ensuring we remain adequately diversified.

Cambridge Canadian Dividend Fund: performance
Over the long-term, the fund has performed as we would have hoped – outperforming peers and the index. Shorter term performance has lagged behind what we were striving for, and as a team we have made several changes to better position the portfolio within the new reality. Some of these specific changes have been discussed in a prior blog post as well as quarterly commentaries.

Current investment environment

The current environment offers a number of interesting challenges, but also opportunities. From a macro perspective, many (including ourselves) find it to be one of the more complex environments we have experienced. The following table lays out a number of points which are gaining increased attention today.

While the performance of any fund will ebb and flow, we believe in staying steadfast in our investment process and philosophy while also being flexible in the application of it, given the changing world we currently find ourselves in. This approach has yielded strong results over the long-term and we believe strongly that owning a collection of high-quality businesses at reasonable prices and being properly diversified drives solid investor outcomes over time.

Fund profile: what you get today when you invest

The businesses within the portfolio have weathered the storm and we believe are strongly positioned to thrive in the coming years under many different but realistic scenarios. At the same time, we are being paid well to wait, particularly given alternatives in the market.          

Fund profile: top five holdings

While aggregate statistics are interesting, let’s provide further insight into our five largest positions, what those businesses do and why we own them.

Power Corporation – approximately 5.4% of the fund
Primary business segments include Great West Life (provider of life insurance and annuity products) and IGM Financial (asset and wealth management services).  
Why we own it: Life insurance businesses have only experienced a modest impact from COVID-19. The wealth and asset management business has benefited from the sharp rebound in the markets. At the same time, Power’s discount to its underlying net asset value (NAV) is near historical highs despite recent moves to simplify the structure. We expect NAV per share to compound over time and believe management will make prudent capital allocation decisions.

Fairfax Financial– approximately 5.3% of the fund
One of the largest North American property and casualty insurers/reinsurers, specializing in commercial property and speciality lines. 
Why we own it: We are entering one of the best pricing environments for commercial insurance since 2001. At the same time, undue market concerns over Fairfax’s investment portfolio has provided a compelling return profile with the shares trading at a substantial discount to book value despite peers trading at meaningful premiums to book.

Empire Co. – approximately 5.0% of the fund
A leading Canadian grocery store operator. Operates under brands including Sobeys, Safeway, Farm Boy and Voila.
Why we own it: Under improved management, the company has substantially enhanced operations, margins and capital allocation discipline. There remains further room to improve versus peers, and their Voila e-commerce solution is the most advanced in Canada.

Enbridge – approximately 4.5% of the fund
Critical North American energy infrastructure with a 53%/30% skew to crude oil/natural gas pipelines as well as 14% of regulated gas distribution to consumers.
Why we own it: In many cases, Enbridge’s assets are the only energy transportation alternative, creating an irreplaceable infrastructure system and a stable cash flow stream, a fact we have seen with the resiliency of Enbridge’s crude pipeline system in the recent downturn. The business has also been diversifying towards critical natural gas transmission/distribution while reducing corporate leverage over the past few years. The underlying free cash flow yield, which supports the 8% dividend yield, is attractive and sustainable in our view. 

Dollarama – approximately 4.1% of the fund
Leading dollar store operator in Canada.
Why we own it: Dollarama benefits from substantial scale, lean operations and excellent unit economics. The business model has also proven to be very resilient during times of turmoil and provides increased earnings stability for the fund. Finally, the Canadian dollar store market remains under-penetrated allowing for an attractive growth pipeline of new stores in addition to the option value provided by their Latin American investment.

Final Comments

While market indices have recovered much of the recent losses and considerable uncertainty remains, we feel confident in the businesses we have partnered with. They remain very profitable, have strong balance sheets and are operated by excellent management teams. They have all come through COVID-19 and in many cases have only improved their competitive positioning. Changes in the portfolio were made along the way, including reducing or eliminating businesses that we believe are not positioned for future success in the new reality. In a handful of cases, these were difficult decisions which resulted in capital losses. Portfolio management will always remain a continuous process, with less attractive opportunities being sold to make way for the best opportunity set we see today.

We thank you for your continued support and will continue to work hard to protect and compound client capital.

​
     Stephen Groff

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns net of fees and expenses payable by the fund (except for figures of one year or less, which are simple total returns) including changes in security value and reinvestment of all dividends/distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

The author and/or a member of their immediate family may hold specific holdings/securities discussed in this document. Any opinion or information provided are solely those of the author and does not constitute investment advice or an endorsement or recommendation of any entity or security discussed or provided by CI Investments Inc.

This document is provided as a general source of information and should not be considered personal, legal, accounting, tax or investment advice, or construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any entity or security discussed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the material contained in this document is accurate at the time of publication. Market conditions may change which may impact the information contained in this document. All charts and illustrations in this document are for illustrative purposes only. They are not intended to predict or project investment results. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding any particular investment. Investors should consult their professional advisors prior to implementing any changes to their investment strategies. The opinions expressed in the communication are solely those of the author and are not to be used or construed as investment advice or as an endorsement or recommendation of any entity or security discussed.

The comparison presented is intended to illustrate the mutual fund’s historical performance as compared with the historical performance of widely quoted market indices or a weighted blend of widely quoted market indices or another investment fund. There are various important differences that may exist between the mutual fund and the stated indices or investment fund, that may affect the performance of each. The objectives and strategies of the mutual fund result in holdings that do not necessarily reflect the constituents of and their weights within the comparable indices or investment fund. Indices are unmanaged and their returns do not include any sales charges or fees. It is not possible to invest directly in market indices.

Certain statements contained in this communication are based in whole or in part on information provided by third parties and CI Investments Inc. has taken reasonable steps to ensure their accuracy.

Certain statements in this document are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements (“FLS”) are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” or “estimate,” or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are by their nature based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained herein are based upon what CI Investments Inc. and the portfolio manager believe to be reasonable assumptions, neither CI Investments Inc. nor the portfolio manager can assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Published August 25, 2020