SUMMARY
2019 was an excellent year across global equity markets, and Canadian equities were no exception. Following a selloff in the fourth quarter of 2018, the S&P/TSX Composite rebounded 22.9% in 2019, posting positive returns in 10 of the 12 months. Smaller-cap names in the S&P/TSX Completion gained 26.1%, outpacing the 21.9% return of the S&P/TSX 60.
The S&P/TSX Composite posted its highest annual return since 2009, capping a decade-long run that saw a total gain of 94.9%. Amid this historic bull market, however, 92% of Canadian Equity funds underperformed their benchmark in 2019, and 86% underperformed over the decade. This deficit was not an outlier, as a majority of funds underperformed across all categories for 2019. Canadian Dividend & Income Equity managers fared the worst in 2019; only 2% of funds surpassed the S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats®.
