Picton Mahoney Fortified Multi-Asset Fund (the "Fund")
Equities
Overall equity weight up slightly month-over-month as we seek opportunities to add equity exposure on pullbacks. In total, all equity strategies still below 60% net exposure; primary vehicle is the Picton Mahoney Fortified Equity Fund. We will continue to optimize the 10% limit and utilize the Picton Mahoney Fortified Long Short Alternative Fund as a "beta dial" for equity exposure at the margin. Over the past couple months, our Economic Cycle Model has moved decidedly toward “Phase 2” (decelerating economic growth), wherein equities remain favoured, but with greater dispersion in markets, more long-short opportunities may present themselves. Having said that, the typical balanced fund, “tactical” or not, is generally loaded with bond proxies, so we believe style differentiation and respect for factor-driven returns in this cycle phase argue against being merely “defensive” within equities.
Fixed Income
Exposure to government bonds has crept up from lows of ~4% some 3-6 months ago when our Economic Cycle Model was in the early cycle phase, which would have argued for more economically-sensitive exposures at the time. Economic cycle “Phase 2” argues for more bond exposure, notwithstanding relatively unattractive yields. This exposure maintains diversification benefit. Moreover, we maintain a core allocation to the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Fund as a more conservative / defensible allocation within the asset class, given its focus on hedging rates, credit risk and liquidity risk.
Commodities
Inline with the Economic Cycle Model transition noted above, commodities have been trimmed over the past few months. Though a more modest exposure than early cycle (when commodities tend to offer their best Sharpe Ratios), our Multi-Asset framework still seeks exposure here, and is achieved largely via ETFs rather than futures (which we consider as more capital efficient). Commodities, generally being sensitive to economic growth, offer a means of redistributing equity risk / diversifying, but also add direct exposure to inflation impulses in the marketplace (i.e. benefitting from inflation, rather than simply “hedging” it, as one is wont to do in the fixed income domain)
Alpha Strategies
Merger Arbitrage and Market Neutral strategies primarily in use. Target weights are relatively stable (and small), and we have been cognizant of outsized returns in this bucket some months ago. Cryptocurrency (which some consider as “Gold 2.0”) remains a de minimus exposure, largely due to risk-weighting considerations. Base hedges (in the form of VIX futures) are often enhanced with some VXX call spreads and index puts to deal with any gap-down risk associated with COVID resurgence / variants, including brief economic slowdowns due to potential supply-shortages in the foreseeable future, but overall, we remain constructive toward year-end.
Overall, we continue to highlight fund diversification benefits. Fund performance remains well ahead of the Morningstar Tactical Balanced category average YTD, all while remaining underweight equities in a typical 60/40 construct. As yields rose and levelled out, allocation to government bonds in G7 nations allocation is up almost 300bps from a few months ago…not a huge call on rates and their attractiveness in isolation, but we continue to view the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Fund as a conservative proxy at large in the Fund’s positioning, rate hedge, or not…that’s why our fixed income allocation appears more aligned with traditional balanced constructs. This is not a call on the relative attractiveness of the asset class, but rather, how the approach to garnering returns within each asset class is unique and suits our portfolio construction framework very nicely.
On positioning the Fund for investors, our belief is the diversified nature of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Multi-Asset Fund offers a modern core holding that is the natural evolution of a “balanced fund”. Whether as an introductory vehicle to a diversified strategy with alternative tools and sensibility, a stable portfolio base from which to add satellite positions (individual securities, other alt strategies, etc), or a one-ticket solution for smaller portfolios.
This material has been published by Picton Mahoney Asset Management (“PMAM”) on December 1, 2021. It is provided as a general source of information, is subject to change without notification and should not be construed as investment advice. This material should not be relied upon for any investment decision and is not a recommendation, solicitation or offering of any security in any jurisdiction. The information contained in this material has been obtained from sources believed reliable, however, the accuracy and/or completeness of the information is not guaranteed by PMAM, nor does PMAM assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever. All investments involve risk and may lose value.
This material may contain “forward-looking information” that is not purely historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based upon the reasonable beliefs of PMAM as of the date they are made. PMAM assumes no duty, and does not undertake, to update any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to numerous assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties about general economic factors which change over time. There is no guarantee that any forward-looking statements will come to pass. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements, as a number of important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement made.
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any unitholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative mutual funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale.
There is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will be effective or achieve its intended effect. The use of derivatives or short selling carries several risks which may restrict a strategy in realizing its profits, limiting its losses, or, which cause a strategy to realize or magnify losses. There may additional costs and expenses associated with the use of derivatives and short selling in a hedging strategy.
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