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1. RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans

   In this issue:

   • RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans*

   • Coming soon: Coverage information at plan members’ fingertips on EquitableHealth.ca*

   *Indicates content that will be shared with your clients.
   
    

   RxFood nutrition app added to all group benefits plans

    

   Equitable® has added the RxFood nutrition app to all group benefits plans at no extra cost—giving every plan member more opportunity to make healthy and informed food choices.

    

   RxFood is Canada’s first clinically validated nutrition platform that’s used and trusted by leading health care institutions across the country, such as SickKids Hospital and Diabetes Canada, to help support better health outcomes through nutrition.

    

   Using technology powered by artificial intelligence, RxFood turns everyday meals into personalized insights, practical tips and tailored recommendations that are easy for plan members to act on and build into their routines.

    

   For more information, read our previous eNews article.

    

   Promoting RxFood to plan members

    

   This week, clients will receive a digital toolkit to help them encourage plan members to register for RxFood. Plan members must register to access this free benefit.

    

   The toolkit includes an RxFood brochure, a poster, an email template plan administrators can use to help spread the word, and the video below.
    

   
    

   Coming soon: Coverage information at plan members’ fingertips on EquitableHealth.ca

    

   Starting this month, Equitable plan members will be able to find helpful information about their health coverage more quickly and easily. We’re putting the key details at their fingertips on the EquitableHealth.ca^® home page.

    

   Faster access to health coverage details

    

   Our new coverage panel will provide plan members fast access to information about their paramedical coverage for themselves and their covered dependants – including coverage maximums, reimbursement details and more.

    

   Plan members with Health Care Spending Accounts or Taxable Spending Accounts will also be able to check their balances from the home page.

    

   Later this spring, we’ll add information about vision and dental benefits to the coverage panel, too.

    

   Simpler way to find benefits resources

    

   We’re also making it easier for plan members to access key resources. Benefits cards, booklets and other important sections of the site will now be linked directly from the home page.

    

   The video below walks plan members through the new features:

   
    

   More new features to come

    

   The coverage panel and resources section are the latest enhancements to our new plan member web experience, which we launched last fall. We’ll continue introducing more self-serve features this year.

    

   To learn more about our enhanced plan member home page, contact your Group Account Executive or visit Equitable.ca/effortless.

   
    
    
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3. [pdf] Health Care Spending Account - Plan administrators
4. Introducing Empathy – Compassion and care at times of loss
   We’re excited to announce our partnership with Empathy– the company behind the Empathy Loss Support benefit.
   
   As a trusted advisor, you play a vital role in guiding clients through some of life’s most difficult moments. We understand this and believe Empathy can provide vital support at a time of loss. This is why Equitable^® has added this new benefit to all new and existing individual life insurance policies at no additional cost.
   
   About Empathy
   Empathy Loss Support begins when a claim is initiated. When a client’s loved one notifies us, our Client Care Centre connects them to Empathy’s user-friendly app or website. They can choose the Empathy services they need, including human support, and helpful tools. Empathy will help them navigate both the emotional and logistical challenges following a loss.
    

   Introduced to loved ones at time of claim

   Easy to use co-branded app

   Adding value beyond the policy

   Share the good news
   Include Empathy in your client conversations about life insurance. Show clients how Equitable leads with Care, Compassion, and Empathy.  Our commitment to clients is at the heart of everything we do.
   
   To learn more, visit our Empathy page.
   
   Questions?  Please contact your Equitable wholesaler.
   
   
   
   
   
   This loss support benefit is provided by Empathy and is available to all Equitable life beneficiaries aged 18+ years and residing in Canada. Equitable does not have access to the information provided to Empathy and is not responsible or liable for the services provided by Empathy. Empathy does not represent Equitable nor have the right to bind Equitable. Equitable may modify access to or discontinue offering the Empathy service at any time.
   
   Empathy does not provide legal, medical, financial, or accounting advice, nor does Empathy provide mental health diagnosis or treatment. We recommend consulting a professional on such matters.
5. Introducing Empathy – Compassion and care at time of loss
6. [pdf] Daily/Guaranteed Interest Account Advisor Guide
7. [pdf] Insights into non-registered taxation
8. Market Commentary January 2026
   
   Key Takeaways
   
   Full year 2025:
   • Government policy was very impactful for markets in 2025. U.S. trade policy unsettled markets in the first half of the year, as the U.S. implemented significant tariffs and engaged in tough negotiations with major trading partners. However, by mid-year, fiscal policy provided positive support for markets, particularly with the passing in the U.S. of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July.
   • Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) continued to attract investment, particularly in the United States. This investment provided strong support for equity market performance.
   • Global equity markets delivered strong performance, most notably Canadian equities, which returned an impressive 31.7%.
   • Positive risk appetite supported solid corporate bond performance, which outpaced government bonds.
   
   Fourth Quarter:
   • U.S. equities advanced at a slower pace in the fourth quarter after a strong surge in the prior two quarters. Canadian equities outperformed U.S. equities, fueled by a powerful rally in the Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors.
   • Canadian bond markets posted slightly negative returns during the quarter as higher interest rates weighed on performance. Strong corporate bond performance partially offset weakness in government bonds.
   • Both the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve lowered policy interest rates during the quarter, with Canada dropping its benchmark rate by 25 basis points and the U.S. dropping its policy rate by 50 basis points. Both central banks signalled a cautious approach for further easing.
   
   Economic and Market Update

   Economic Summary: The U.S. economy continued to expand at a moderate pace, supported by strong consumer spending and AI investment. However, job growth slowed and the unemployment rate has edged higher. Inflation remains higher than the 2% target, despite easing trends. While some U.S. trading partners have made trade agreements, uncertainty remains regarding reciprocal tariffs, with a case before the U.S. Supreme Court as to their legality. The Federal Reserve lowered its policy interest rate twice during the quarter, first in October and again in December, to reach a target rate of 3.50% to 3.75%. Chair Powell cited downside risks to employment as a key factor behind the rate cut decisions and emphasized that officials are “well positioned” to wait and assess how the economy evolves.
   
   In Canada, U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber have weighed heavily on these sectors. While most goods continue to enter the U.S. tariff-free due to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (“CUSMA”), broader  uncertainty around U.S. trade policy is dampening business investment. Third quarter GDP growth exceeded market expectations, but growth tracked weaker in the fourth quarter amid the trade disputes. The labour market showed signs of improvement in the fourth quarter after earlier weakness. Headline inflation has hovered near the 2% target, while core inflation remained persistent. The Bank of Canada lowered its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.25% in October and made no changes in December. Going into 2026, trade uncertainty remains with the CUSMA up for renegotiation. The Bank of Canada reiterated its readiness to respond if new shocks or accumulating evidence materially alter the outlook.
    

   Bond Markets: During the quarter, the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index returned -0.3% as interest rates on Canadian bonds rose (bond prices fall as interest rates go up). The increase reflected reduced expectations for interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada and a higher risk premium demanded by investors for long-term debt. Although interest rates increased, credit spreads (i.e. the extra yield on corporate bonds versus government bonds to compensate for their extra risk) continued to move lower. These lower credit spreads resulted in positive overall returns for corporate bonds in the quarter, despite the overall bond market recording a loss. Tightening credit spreads reflected the continued risk-on tone to the market. Despite some volatility, lower-rated BBB bonds generally performed better than higher-quality A-rated bonds. Credit spreads have now rallied back to the tightest spreads since the 2008 financial crisis, nearing the tightest spreads in history. Despite expensive levels, investors remain buyers of corporate bonds, evidenced not just by falling  credit spreads, but also by investors’ enthusiasm to support the primary issuance market. Corporate bond supply continues to set new records, with an impressive $37.5 billion in new issuance in the fourth quarter helping 2025 to exceed the prior year’s issuance. All told, 2025 saw an impressive $160 billion in new issuance via 358 new bonds, versus 2024’s prior record of $139 billion from 301 new bonds.
   
   
   Stock Markets: The fourth quarter marked a pivotal shift in the global equity market rally of 2025. After three quarters of a highly concentrated, tech-led rally in the U.S., cyclical and valueoriented sectors outperformed in Q4. The S&P 500 advanced at a slower 2.7% in the fourth quarter, reflecting a market that is recalibrating after an extended period of concentrated gains. Canadian equities outperformed U.S. equities as the S&P/TSX Composite returned 6.3% in the quarter, finishing the year with an impressive 31.7% return. That was its strongest annual gain since 2009. The strong returns in Canadian equities were fueled by a powerful rally in the Materials sector, supported by soaring gold and base metal prices, and reinforced by the resilience of the Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors. Internationally, developed markets in Europe and Asia gained 6.2% for the quarter, bringing their annual return to 21.2%. This move signals a healthy rebalancing as global investors rotated into attractivelyvalued international equities to hedge against elevated U.S. valuations. Capital is now flowing toward regions and sectors offering stronger earnings visibility and defensive characteristics rather than purely speculative growth.
   
   
   U.S. Equities: U.S. equities entered the fourth quarter at elevated valuations. Despite fundamentally strong earnings growth, stock prices struggled to move higher because investor expectations were for even stronger growth. Technology remained the primary driver of earnings, but the sector faced intense pressure to prove its value. Specifically, investors questioned the pace at which companies could convert AI investments into actual revenue. Investors also worried that growth remained concentrated among too few companies rather than more broadly across the economy. Sector-wise, Communication Services emerged as the top performer for the full year due to significant margin expansion. This was driven by a wave of media-related merger activity and the successful use of AI to make digital advertising more efficient. Industrials also advanced as new tax incentives for domestic manufacturing boosted factory orders. Nevertheless, the market remains concentrated with the top ten stocks representing nearly 40% of the S&P 500 Index. This level of concentration makes the market vulnerable to sudden price swings. As inflation moderated and the Federal Reserve cut rates in December, investors shifted toward more defensive sectors and international equities. This rotation signals a preference for companies with stable cash flows over speculative growth.
   
   
   Canadian Equities: The Canadian market was a global standout during the quarter, supported by lower borrowing costs, a stable Financials sector, and rally in the prices of metals (including gold, but also base metals like nickel and copper). The Materials sector led the way as a weaker U.S. dollar and geopolitical tensions pushed gold to a record of US$4,550 per ounce in late December. For major mining companies, these prices generated record cash flow allowing them to raise dividends and buy back shares. The Bank of Canada interest rate cut supported both the Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors, reducing borrowing costs, and helping banks maintain stable net interest margins. The Big Six Canadian Banks delivered strong earnings results in Q4. These were driven by a surge in capital markets activity and better-than-expected provisions for credit losses, as the economy remained resilient. Trading at 17 times forward earnings, the Canadian market appears attractively valued, prompting investors to shift away from U.S. volatility toward more tangible assets and reliable dividends.
   
   
   Bottom line:  The final quarter of 2025 saw a notable shift in investor positioning. As recession fears receded, attention turned to navigating a period of moderate economic expansion. In Canada, capital flowed into profitable, cash flow-generating companies in the Financials and Material sectors. Momentum in U.S. equities slowed as investors reduced risk amid caution around AI developments. Although major indices remain highly valued, opportunities persist in sectors and regions with stable cash flows and pricing power.
   
   
   Downloadable Copy
    

   Mark Warywoda, CFA VP, Public Investments	Ian Whiteside, CFA, MBA AVP, Public Investments	Johanna Shaw, CFA Director, Public Investments	Jin Li Director, Equity Investments
   Wanyi Chen, CFA, FRM Sr. Quantitative Analyst	Andrew Vermeer, CFA Senior Analyst, Credit	Elizabeth Ayodele  Analyst, Credit	Edward Ng Cheng Hin Analyst, Credit	Kate (Huyen) Vinh Analyst, Equity	Francie Chen Analyst, Rates

   
   ADVISOR USE ONLY
   Any statements contained herein that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the portfolio manager’s best judgment as of the present date as to what may occur in the future. However, forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and are based on the portfolio manager’s present opinions and views. For this reason, the actual outcome of the events or results predicted may differ materially from what is expressed. Furthermore, the portfolio manager’s views, opinions or assumptions may subsequently change based on previously unknown information, or for other reasons. Equitable^® assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Investments may increase or decrease in value and are invested at the risk of the investor. Investment values change frequently, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Professional advice should be sought before an investor embarks on any investment strategy.
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