The Long and Short of Liquid Alternative ETFs
As investment models evolve, so too must the range of strategies that Investment Counsellors and Family Offices should consider. In this article, Mark Webster, Director, Institutional & Advisory, BMO ETFs, discusses the many benefits of liquid alternative ETFs as a complement to a portfolio’s core equity holdings.
Our objective in writing articles for Investment Counsellors and multi-Family Offices is to provide guidance on how Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) can provide scalable access to complementary investment strategies that may be beyond the reach of these practices. Such firms normally have strong capabilities in core Canadian and U.S. equities, moderate expertise in bonds and limited resources in alternative asset classes and strategies. Because of their ease of use, ETFs can be very effective instruments to integrate into client accounts, expanding portfolio construction and, by extension, possibly share of wallet too.
Much has been written about pension model investing and the necessity to include alternative strategies. The case for alternatives was clear when yields were lower but, with continued volatility in equity markets, there is also a strong case to be made for using alternative strategies to mitigate equity risk. With many portfolios heavily weighted to equities, it may be a good idea to consider tempering some of the risk budget by applying a transparent liquid alternative strategy to complement core equity holdings.
We recently listed two long-short liquid alternative strategies: the BMO Long Short Canadian Equity ETF (Ticker: ZLSC) and the BMO Long Short US Equity ETF (Ticker: ZLSU), both of which feature a transparent, rules-based methodology created by our very experienced Quantitative investing team. Building on our proprietary Factor capabilities, we employ a rigorous security screening discipline — and then further reinforce it with prudent weighting or construction rules to manage portfolio risks.
Objective rules are followed to identify companies with solid fundamentals, strong management and to ensure materiality, measured as broad interest in the market. Market sentiment — an important consideration to escape fundamental traps — has two important components:
- Market price strength over successive months;
- Positive analyst forecasts.
BMO GAM’s Quantitaive Investing Team – Alpha Forecasting Process.
Starting from a broad, large-cap selection universe, both portfolios establish long positions in 70 to 100 names, complemented by 50 to 70 others on the short side.
The objective is to provide a portfolio which can generate returns in variable market conditions. The long-short exposure aims to mitigate equity risk, creating a portfolio with a fractional Beta, yet still be able to benefit in rising or falling markets.
Applications
Traditional investment models have become increasingly obsolete. The mythical 60% equity/40% fixed income model was created in the 1980s, when yields were generally much higher (even taking into account the recent spike). As yields compressed, equity levels — and portfolio risk — expanded accordingly.
A good reference for current institutional asset mixes can be found on the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC). It reveals an average asset mix that has approximately equal (one-third) allocations to equities, fixed income and alternatives. There is a wide variation of exposures within each asset class, determined by size and sophistication, but the trend is clear.
Investment counsellors may wish to emulate institutional portfolios but, without the expertise or the access, might instead consider ETFs like ZLSC and ZLSU. In an increasingly competitive industry, firms that can build more robust portfolios featuring broader diversification will be able to consolidate assets from competitors, expanding share of wallet. Real asset exposure in Infrastructure (BMO Global Infrastructure Index ETF – ZGI), Real Estate (BMO Equal Weight REITs Index ETF – ZRE), Agriculture (BMO Global Agriculture ETF – ZEAT), and Gold (BMO Equal Weight Global Gold Index ETF – ZGD/BMO Junior Gold Index ETF – ZJG) may also provide very useful complementary exposures to equity-heavy portfolios.
Portfolio construction requires a trained eye and a steely nerve. Firms that can demonstrate their acumen and their insight, showing the courage to expand their horizons, will help their clients to simplify their lives. Dealing with a single firm is much easier than spreading assets around, but counsellors must show they are willing and able to incorporate more strategies than they possess internally. Due diligence on Exchange Traded Funds can provide these kinds of opportunities to build a more expansive approach to investment management.
For more information on BMO’s ETF solutions, reach out to your regional Institutional BMO ETF Specialist.
Disclosures:
Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent simplified prospectus.
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