Guardian Canadian Equity Income

Benchmark: S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index (Formerly called S&P/TSX Equity Income Index)
Inception Date: 31-Dec-96

Investment Objective

The principal objective of the strategy is the achievement of a high level of stable income, with an attractive total return, by investing primarily in Canadian dividend-paying equity securities, income trust units and other flow-through securities.

Investment Approach

The Guardian Canadian Equity Income Strategy believes that high-quality dividend-paying and dividend-growth stocks provide superior risk-adjusted returns over the long-term. Stable and growing dividends are an important contributor to total returns and help to reduce volatility. The investment process seeks out income trusts and higher yielding equities with stable and predictable revenue and cash flow, a diversified customer base, and focused management, and invest in the securities of those that can be obtained at a reasonable price. We use a disciplined approach that blends rigorous fundamental bottom-up security analysis with a top-down overlay. The portfolio normally consists of 30 to 45 names.

The strategy may invest in any income-oriented equity security, including, but not limited to, common equities, income trusts and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Income trusts structured as limited partnerships are permitted.