LifeWorks Releases the Results of Its Performance Universe of Pension Managers’ Pooled Funds

LifeWorks has released the results of its Performance Universe of Pension Managers’ Pooled Funds for the third quarter of 2021.

According to the report, in the third quarter of 2021, diversified pooled fund managers posted a median return of 0.7 per cent before management fees and 8.0 per cent since the beginning of the year.

“The stock market showed slower growth in the third quarter after a strong start to the year, and the MSCI World Index delivered a 2.3 per cent return. The Canadian Equity S&P/TSX Composite Index posted a return of 0.2 per cent in the third quarter and the U.S. stocks S&P 500 Index registered a return of 0.6 per cent (in U.S. dollars) and 3.4 per cent in Canadian dollars. The Emerging Markets Index posted a return of negative 5.9 per cent (in Canadian dollars). During the third quarter of 2021, the Canadian bond market posted a return of negative 0.5 per cent,” said Jean Bergeron, partner for the investment and risk consulting team at LifeWorks.

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“The financial position of pension funds has improved since the start of the year. We estimate that the solvency ratio of an average pension fund increased by around 8.8 per cent in the first three quarters of the year,” added Bergeron.

During the third quarter of 2021, diversified pooled fund managers obtained, on average, returns that exceeded that of the benchmark portfolio. The median return was 0.7 per cent, which was 0.8 per cent higher than for the benchmark portfolio used by many pension funds (with an allocation of 55 per cent in equity and 45 per cent in fixed income).

Canadian bonds

In the third quarter of 2021, managers obtained a median return of negative 0.3 per cent on bonds (Universe mandate), which was 0.2 per cent higher than the benchmark index.

During the third quarter of 2021, short-term, mid-term and long-term bond indices posted returns of 0.1 per cent, 0.0 per cent and negative 1.6 per cent, respectively. The high-yield bond index posted a return of 1.3 per cent, while the real return bond index provided a negative 0.3 per cent return.

Canadian equities

In the third quarter of 2021, the median return for Canadian equity managers was 1.1 per cent, which was 0.9 per cent higher than the 0.2 per cent posted by the S&P/TSX Index.

During the third quarter of 2021, the S&P/TSX Small Cap Index decreased 2.5 per cent, whereas the S&P/TSX Completion Index representing mid-cap stocks registered an increase of 0.1 per cent, and the large-cap S&P/TSX 60 Index grew by 0.2 per cent.

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Foreign equities

Foreign equity managers’ median returns and appropriate benchmark index returns for the third quarter of 2021 are as follows:

• 3.0 per cent for U.S. equities versus 3.4 per cent for the S&P 500 Index (C$)
• 1.0 per cent for international equities versus 1.9 per cent for the MSCI EAFE Index (C$)
• 1.8 per cent for global equities versus 2.3 per cent for the MSCI World Index (C$)
• Negative 6.2 per cent for emerging market equities versus negative 5.9 per cent for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (C$)

Alternative investments

The Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Index (formerly CSFB/Tremont Hedge Fund Index) posted a return of 4.0 per cent (C$) for the third quarter of 2021.

The Performance Universe covers about 290 funds managed by nearly 46 investment management firms.

The results of our study are based on the returns provided by leading portfolio managers, ranging from independent investment management firms to insurance companies, trust companies and financial institutions. The returns are calculated before deduction of management fees.

The Investment & Risk consulting team at LifeWorks produces the quarterly Performance Universe results. This team provides independent consulting services on all aspects of asset and liability management of pension funds, endowment funds, and other institutional investment funds.

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