Canadian Dividend Equity

Managers

• External Managers : Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc.(DGAM), Professionals’ Financial – Mutual Funds Inc.

Returns ^*

* Returns for the first and last year are not annualized

* Non annualized return

$1,000 Invested Amount since inception

The FDP Canadian Dividend Equity Portfolio, Series A posted a net return of 3.4% for the first six months of 2024, versus 5.8% for 2023. The FDP Canadian Equity Portfolio, Series I posted a net return of 4.0% for the first six months of 2024.

The modest key interest rate reduction in early June 2024 (the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020) was well received in the country and bolstered Canadian stock markets. The Canadian stock market, as measured by the S&P/TSX Composite Dividend Index, posted a 6.4% return over the first six months of 2024, outperforming the S&P/TSX Composite Index (6.1% return over the same period).

Stock selection detracted from the FDP Canadian Dividend Equity Portfolio’s performance over the first half of 2024, though the overweight to the Health Care and Information Technology sectors helped mitigate this negative performance.