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International Women’s Day
Reflecting on inclusion in our industry

International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to pause and think about how we support the women clients we serve. In wealth management, inclusion is not just a theme for one day a year — it plays a critical role in building stronger relationships and long‑term business growth.

Our recent Master Class – From Insight to Inclusion: Engaging Women Investors with Confidence –reinforced this.

The 60-minute session, featuring Susan Silma, Client Experience Transformation Leader and industry speaker and columnist, looked at why many women still feel under‑served in our industry and what advisors can do to create a more engaging and supportive experience.

Here are a few key takeaways from the conversation:

•  Inclusion strengthens your practice. When women feel heard and understood, trust grows —and so does loyalty.

•  Start with better conversations. Susan shared ways to turn research and insights into everyday discussions that feel relevant and meaningful to women.

•  Consistency builds confidence. A clear, repeatable process for prospecting, onboarding and reviewing plans with women clients helps ensure they feel included from day one.

Did you know: 82% of advisors who attended the live Master Class identified the need to add more women clients to their business.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is a good reminder that creating a space where women feel comfortable, informed and valued benefits everyone — and positions your practice for long‑term success.

If you missed the session — or would like to revisit the ideas — the Master Class recording is now available on demand. On behalf of everyone at Equitable, Happy International Women’s Day, Canada!

Date posted: Thursday, March 5, 2026
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.
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EAMG Market Commentary October 2023

October 20, 2023

Rates & Credit - Interest rates increased steadily in Q3 against the backdrop of sticky inflation, strong economic growth, and a tight labour market. In Canada, corporate bonds outperformed government bonds and the broader FTSE Canada Universe Index during the quarter, with a loss of 2.2%, versus a loss of 4.4% for government bonds and a loss of 3.9% for the overall index. The outperformance was primarily driven by the fact that the corporate bond index is less sensitive to interest rates movements (as compared to the government index), all else being equal. The outperformance was also driven by an improvement in risk-appetite, with lower-rated BBBs slightly outperforming higher-rated A bonds. Industries with higher interest rate exposure such as infrastructure, energy, and communications underperformed those with less (notably financials and securitization), consistent with the overall shift in the yield curve.

Equities Lose Traction – Global equity markets lost momentum last quarter with the TSX declining 2.2% while major developed economies from Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) fell 1.3% in local currency terms. U.S. equity markets, while falling approximately 3.3%, were cushioned by a strong greenback, with the index declining only 1% in Canadian dollar terms. With inflation prints continuing to be stubbornly high and employment data remaining strong, central bankers emphasized their commitment to a higher-for-longer approach to monetary policy. The hawkish tones out of the Federal Reserve pushed bond yields higher and consequently, pressured equities lower. Furthermore, mixed economic data out of China rattled investor sentiment over the quarter as global growth forecasts came under scrutiny.

U.S. Fundamentals – Although U.S. earnings continue to contract on a year-over-year basis, companies surpassed expectations with investors remaining highly focused on signs of deteriorating operating margins. After bouncing off Q1 2022 lows, forward earnings guidance continues to improve on a quarterly basis. Based on our analysis, ~35% of major companies revised earnings forecasts higher (+2% versus Q2) while ~33% held expectations constant, with the balance expecting deteriorating financial performance. Overall, improved efficiencies through cost-cutting measures and stronger-than-expected pricing power have contributed to resilience in operating margins, and therefore renewed optimism about forecasted financial performance.

Equal Weight S&P 500 versus S&P 500 – Persistent crowding into mega-cap technology stocks – which has driven the majority of market returns year-to-date in the U.S. – slowed at the beginning of the summer before reaccelerating into quarter end. The persistence of this trend has resulted in the equal-weighted version of the S&P 500 index returning a mere 1.8% over the first three quarters of the year, markedly lower than the 13.1% return observed from the S&P 500. We continue to emphasize that a crowded market surge is not uncommon during late stages of the economic cycle, and we remain focused on delivering optimal risk-adjusted returns with quantitative factors.

U.S. Quant Factors – The quality-growth areas of the market continued to outperform last quarter with market participants seeking large cash-rich companies with innovative product offerings and stable operating margins. That said, the pricing power of these companies has weakened more recently with consumers having depleted pandemic-era savings and stimulus. As such, fundamentals are beginning to appear overvalued. Low volatility stocks (i.e. stocks with lower sensitivity to broad market movement and lower price volatility) performed in-line with the overall market for most of the summer before underperforming into quarter-end when crowding into big-tech returned. While top-line projections are forecasted to post stable growth, the basket’s relatively lower operating margins remain a headwind amid surging interest rates. Dividend growth companies, which include businesses with a lengthy and established history of increasing dividends, performed approximately in-line with the broader index over the quarter. With the market forecasting overly-negative fundamental performance, this factor is positioned as a contrarian opportunity in the market.

Canadian Fundamentals – Unlike those in the U.S., Canadian companies reported shrinking operating margins in general, pressuring equity pricing. Like in the U.S., Canadian corporate earnings were mostly consistent with expectations but continue to contract on a year-over-year basis. The energy sector benefitted from a ~30% increase in oil prices during the quarter, as OPEC’s restrictive oil production schedule pushed crude markets deeper into under-supplied territory. Those higher energy prices buoyed performance of stocks in the energy sector, one of only two sectors with positive performance during the quarter, helping partially offset softer-than-expected results out of the financials and communications sectors. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada continued with its hawkish monetary policy by raising its overnight interest rate by another 25 basis points, bringing it to 5%. Their efforts to slow economic growth are beginning to cause some deterioration in fundamentals and, with one quarter remaining, analysts are expecting Canadian earnings to contract ~9% for the year.

Canadian Quant Factors – With central banks around the world continuing to hike interest rates and uncertainty surrounding China’s economic health, global growth prospects fluttered over the quarter. The cyclical nature of the Canadian market, and therefore its reliance on global partners, saw equity prices put under pressure by growth concerns. As a result, the quality bucket benefitted from defensive positioning by investors and thus resumed its climb in Canada. Investors continue to prefer mature, large businesses that are better positioned in a restrictive economic environment due to their more stable operating margins. The value factor – which was beaten down in Q2 – rebounded last quarter with supply-driven energy strength helping to propel energy stocks higher. Low volatility initially displayed similar performance to the TSX, but energy’s rapid surge into the end of summer pressured the group lower. Given higher risk-free rates, the dividend factor also underperformed over the quarter, with dividend yields becoming less attractive on risk adjusted basis.

Views From the Frontline

Rates – Both nominal and real – rose sharply in Q3 to levels not seen since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008. A healthy labour market, strong consumer spending, persistent inflation and excess supply concerns drove the interest rate increase. Although the economy is starting to witness a deceleration in consumer spending and tighter credit conditions, central banks remain committed to maintaining a higher policy rate for longer to bring inflation back to the 2% target.

Credit – The risk premium for corporate bonds (versus government bonds) has been range-
bound over the past quarter as investors’ evaluations of a variety of scenarios have evolved: soft-landing versus a recession, geopolitical uncertainty, further central bank increases, among other things. On the balance, we do not think the current risk premium adequately compensates for downside risk, and as such, we remain cautious on corporate bonds and have a bias towards higher-quality, shorter-dated credit where we view the risk / reward dynamic as being more favourable.

Equities – Geographically, we began the quarter with a preference for U.S. equities relative to Canada and EAFE. In-line with our expectations, U.S. stocks outperformed the two regions in Canadian dollar terms. That said, weakness in the Euro versus the Canadian dollar was a headwind for our EAFE exposure. With earnings yield – which is the percentage of earnings relative to price – becoming less attractive compared to risk-free rates in the U.S., and the greenback strength becoming overstretched from a technical perspective, we have pared back our overweight U.S. position. Moreover, with Chinese officials focusing efforts on the introduction of new stimulus packages, we believe that more cyclical markets like Canada and EAFE will retrace some of their losses in the near term. Within the U.S., we entered Q3 with a constructive view on high quality growth segments of the market that provide strong operating margins during the current late economic cycle conditions. The factor moved in-line with our expectations, as highlighted in the “U.S. Quant Factor” section, and we are tactically decreasing our exposure amid stretched fundamentals. In Canada, we continue to prefer high-quality companies due to their strong fundamentals, with the group currently displaying momentum versus the broader TSX. Tactically, we are participating in the oil supply shock through the value factor.

Downloadable Copy

Mark Warywoda, CFA VP, Public Portfolio Management	Ian Whiteside, CFA, MBA AVP, Public Portfolio Management	Johanna Shaw, CFA Director, Portfolio Management	Jin Li Director, Equity Portfolio Management
Mohamed Bouhadi, CFA Senior Analyst, Rates	Tyler Farrow Analyst, Equity	Andrew Vermeer Analyst, Credit	Elizabeth Ayodele Analyst, Credit

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 Life of Canada® 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.

Posted November 3, 2023

Market Commentary July 2025 Key Takeaways

• Markets were very volatile in April to start Q2 but calmed as the quarter progressed. Volatility was driven mostly by headlines about tariffs, but other fiscal policy developments also had an impact.
• Equity markets sold off sharply at the start of the quarter, continuing Q1’s weakness. Markets rebounded sharply once worst-case fears over tariffs eased. The markets continued to rally through the quarter as trade negotiations progressed. Stronger-thanexpected corporate earnings also boosted markets. Despite the shaky start to the quarter, most global equity markets set new all-time highs in Q2.
• Canadian bond markets delivered slightly negative returns in Q2. Weak performance was driven by rising interest rates, which outweighed the impact of tighter credit spreads. Higher interest rates hurt the performance of longer-term bonds most.
• Both the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve adopted a wait-and-see approach. They each held rates steady during Q2, awaiting greater clarity on the impacts of tariffs on both growth and inflation before considering further cuts.

Economic and Market Update

Economic Summary: Most indicators of economic activity in the U.S. continued to expand at a decent pace. However, GDP data for the first quarter came in weaker than expected, as higher imports ahead of anticipated tariffs and weaker spending by consumers weighed on Q1 GDP. That said, GDP growth is expected to bounce back in Q2. Tariffs will likely continue to be an evolving story, with potential impacts on both economic growth and inflation. Those impacts will remain uncertain until trade agreements have been finalized.

Fig-One-(1).jpg

In early April, President Trump announced larger-than-expected reciprocal tariffs, with the impact most notable on trade with China. However, progress followed with a 90-day pause in tariff implementation. The U.S. then reached trade agreements with the UK, China, and Vietnam. Negotiations with other major trade partners are ongoing. The conflict between Israel and Iran raised inflation concerns, due mostly to the possibility of higher oil prices. Those concerns eased following a ceasefire. Congress passed Trump’s tax cut and spending bill, raising concerns about its potential impact on the U.S. fiscal burden. Meanwhile, U.S. labour market conditions remain resilient, with the unemployment rate remaining low. Inflation has eased slightly but remains above the Federal Reserve’s target. Amid heightened uncertainty, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%–4.50% at both of its meetings in Q2. Chair Jerome Powell stated that the Fed is “well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”

In Canada, tariffs and trade-related uncertainty continue to weigh on the economy. A pullforward of exports and inventory accumulation ahead of tariffs helped keep first-quarter GDP firm, but growth is expected to slow in the second quarter. The labour market has weakened, particularly in trade-sensitive sectors. Inflation remains within the Bank of Canada’s 1–3% preferred range. However, core CPI remains above the Bank’s preferred 2% target. Canada’s fiscal deficit is expected to widen as Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to fast-track infrastructure development and increase defense spending. Amid ongoing trade uncertainty, the Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.75% during its April and June meetings. Governor Tiff Macklem signaled the Bank’s readiness to cut rates further if economic conditions deteriorate.

Fig-Two-(1).jpg

Bond Markets: During Q2, the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index returned -0.6%. Yields for Canadian bonds rose across all maturities over the quarter. That reflected reduced expectations for rate cuts by the Bank of Canada and a higher risk premium on long-term debt. The impact of higher yields on government bonds was offset in part by tightening of credit spreads on provincial and corporate bonds. Overall corporate bonds saw a positive return for the quarter and outperformed government bonds, in part due to the strong recovery in credit spreads that started in late
April. While corporate issuance slowed considerably in April due to increased trade policy uncertainty, issuance in the Canadian bond markets during May and June were robust. There were 83 deals during Q2 that combined to raise $37 billion for issuers. June 2025 was the 3rd busiest month for issuance on record. We continue to expect higher credit spreads as the U.S. tariffs impact global growth. As such, we have maintained our conservative view with a bias towards shorter corporate bonds but remain ready to invest in longer corporate bonds as valuations become
attractive.

Stock Markets – Overview: Having done a round-trip following April tariff announcements, technology, consumer discretionary and industrial companies propelled the U.S. equity market to another record high. The S&P 500 ended the quarter up about 11%, outperforming Canadian and international markets. Canadian equities gained 8.5% in Q2, buoyed by front-loaded demand that benefited the Materials sector, while Financials recovered from a poor Q1. Meanwhile, as risk sentiment stabilized following the 90-day tariff pause and U.S. equities regained momentum, the appeal of the “Sell America” trade diminished. As a result, Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) markets finished the quarter with a more modest gain of just over 5%, lagging the sharper
recovery seen in North America.

Fig-Four-(1).jpg

U.S. Equities: The U.S. equity market staged a V-shaped recovery on strong company earnings data in the second quarter. A stable job market and muted inflation reinforced the view of a resilient U.S. economy. At a company level, we observed positive corporate earnings surprises, steady profit margins and better-than-expected forward earnings guidance. Together they underpinned the equity market’s sharp reversal to the upside. Market breadth also improved over the quarter, with strength extending beyond Technology to include Industrials and Financials. That signalled that the market rally was supported by investors’ confidence in the U.S. economy. Furthermore, structural investment trends in artificial intelligence (AI) continued to accelerate, highlighted by rising enterprise capex in data centres. Beyond AI, Circle, a blockchain-based platform that supports stablecoin issuance, tokenized assets, and digital payment infrastructure, conducted a successful IPO. Its share price jumped 485% from its listing price as of quarter-end. On June 17, the U.S. Senate passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, a regulatory framework for use of tokenized assets. While investors wait for the House’s decision, equity price actions suggest that the policy environment is increasingly supportive of blockchain innovation and digital efficiency.

Canadian Equities: Canadian equities posted solid gains in Q2, with Financials overtaking Materials to lead the market higher. Momentum from the Materials sector, which benefited from the pull-forward demand related to U.S. tariff uncertainty, faded toward quarter-end. Meanwhile, cooling inflation and muted domestic growth pushed investors towards highquality, high-dividend-paying companies. Notably, banks significantly outperformed the broader market, as investors favoured their stable corporate fundamentals. Energy surged briefly amid escalating geopolitical tensions, but those gains proved short-lived. In recap, investors in the Canadian market faced slowing resource demand and a stalling domestic economy, which fueled increased interest in high-quality, high-dividend-paying companies. That is a trend we expect to continue going forward.

Bottom line: Markets remain heavily influenced by sentiment, with U.S. policy developments and ongoing tariff negotiations continuing to cause periodic volatility. However, there is little
evidence of deterioration in the hard data to date. As such, we continue to anchor our positioning on underlying data rather than market narratives. Looking ahead, the combination of a structurally higher-for-longer interest rate environment and increasingly pro-growth policy backdrop presents selective opportunities. In the U.S., this favours highquality growth stocks, particularly within Technology, where strong balance sheets and long-term thematic tailwinds remain intact. In Canada, Financials, especially the relatively inexpensive banks, present a more compelling opportunity as earlier tailwinds from pullforward demand are beginning to wane. While we remain constructive, we are mindful of elevated equity valuations and continue to closely monitor macro conditions and policy developments for signs of inflection.

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 Hi Analyst, Credit	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.

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 Hi Analyst, Credit	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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