Mackenzie Launches ETFs for Every Market Mood: From Cyclical Growth to Defensive Yield

New Canadian investment products are hitting the market at full speed — and they’re built for flexibility.

Mackenzie Investments unveiled four new ETFs on Wednesday, including two designed specifically to help investors tilt their portfolios based on economic conditions:

• Mackenzie Defensive Tilt ETF (TSX: MDEF)

• Mackenzie Cyclical Tilt ETF (TSX: MCYC)

• Mackenzie Canadian High Dividend Yield ETF (TSX: MHDC)

• Mackenzie US High Dividend Yield ETF (TSX: MHDU)

All four ETFs carry a 0.55% management fee.

MDEF and MCYC offer exposure to 80–120 companies each, selected through a rules- and factor-based process. According to Mackenzie SVP Nelson Arruda, MDEF focuses on companies like insurers that perform well during slowdowns, while MCYC targets firms like chipmakers and retailers that benefit from growth cycles.

“These ETFs allow investors to shift between cyclical and defensive strategies without needing to rebalance sectors manually,” Arruda explained. However, he cautions against holding both MDEF and MCYC at the same time unless you have a neutral equity position.

MHDC and MHDU each invest in 40–60 high-dividend companies, applying a three-pronged strategy:

1. Dividend yield exposure (e.g., Canadian banks, U.S. giants like Home Depot)

2. Options writing on up to 30% of assets for income

3. Cash leverage to offset potential returns lost to options strategies

These funds aim to serve income-seeking investors, including retirees and those needing short-term cash flow.

More Product News:

• Evolve Funds is seeking approval to launch two “UltraYield” equity ETFs — one for Canadian stocks (MAPL) and one for U.S. stocks (BIGY). Both use covered call strategies with up to 1.33x leverage.

• Hamilton ETFs expanded options for two of its popular funds, launching USD-unhedged classes:

  • Hamilton U.S. Equity Yield Maximizer ETF (TSX: SMAX.U)

  • Hamilton Technology Yield Maximizer ETF (TSX: QMAX.U)

• Global X Canada licensed ICE indices for four leveraged ETFs:

  • BetaPro 3X/−3X US Treasury 20+ Year ETFs (TSX: TTLT / STLT)

  • BetaPro 3X/−3X Semiconductor ETFs (TSX: SOXL / SOXS)

These aim to capture short-term leveraged returns based on ICE U.S. Treasury and NYSE Semiconductor indices.

• Bloomberg launched 66 new “Screened Choice” equity indices, with modular exclusion themes like fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, and ESG controversies. Investors can choose pre-set benchmarks or fully customize.

• Foresters Financial introduced Advantage Max, a whole life insurance policy with up to $20M coverage, tax-deferred cash value, 6.25% dividend scale, and no medical exam for most applicants under 55. Benefits include a smoking cessation program and children’s coverage.

AiF Insight:

The Canadian financial market continues to evolve with an ever-expanding range of ETFs, funds, and insurance options. But while products multiply, the true skill lies in distinguishing real value — choosing investments that fund real businesses, help them grow, and allow investors to share in that success. Ai Financial helps clients cut through the noise and allocate capital with purpose.