Canada’s ETF Scene Heats Up: Active, Leveraged, and Gold Strategies Make Waves
From income to leverage, Canada’s ETF lineup just got stronger.
Canada’s ETF landscape is entering a new phase of innovation and specialization. In just a few weeks, three major players—Manulife, LongPoint, and BMO—unveiled a range of new funds targeting everything from actively managed income strategies to high-octane leveraged plays and gold exposure with built-in yield.
As investors demand more tailored, outcome-driven products, Canadian issuers are stepping up with sharper tools and homegrown solutions.
Manulife Embraces ETF Flexibility with Active Fund Series
Manulife Investment Management rolled out four new ETF series, repackaging popular mutual fund strategies into low-cost, intraday-traded vehicles. The lineup spans fixed income and equity, combining active management with a focus on income and quality growth.
Leading the launch is the Manulife Core Plus Bond Fund (MCOR), which blends government and corporate bonds across credit tiers to optimize returns while managing risk—an appealing option in today’s rate-sensitive environment.
The equity funds include Manulife Fundamental Equity Fund (MFUN), a globally diversified strategy targeting dividend growers with strong business models, and Manulife Canadian Equity Class (MCAN), which narrows that focus to Canadian companies. Rounding out the offering is the Manulife Dividend Income Fund (MDIF), aimed at investors seeking monthly income from a mix of Canadian, U.S., and global dividend payers. Together, these funds give advisors and investors new building blocks for constructing resilient, income-focused portfolios with active oversight.
LongPoint Delivers First-Ever Triple-Leveraged ETFs—and Eyes Single-Stock Plays
LongPoint Asset Management made headlines with the launch of Canada’s first locally listed 3X leveraged and inverse ETFs, all traded in Canadian dollars. These “Mega ETFs” offer amplified exposure to major indices and sectors—including Canadian banks (BNKU), Canadian gold miners (CGMU), and long-duration U.S. Treasuries (TLTU), as well as their -3X inverse counterparts.
But LongPoint isn’t stopping there. The firm recently filed for a new batch of 2x leveraged single-stock ETFs, a first-of-its-kind move in Canada. The proposed products include COIU CN, which would seek to deliver 2x the daily performance of Coinbase stock, and MSTU CN, tied to MicroStrategy.
Both ETFs would charge 1.55% in management fees and are structured for traders seeking direct, amplified exposure to high-volatility U.S. tech names.
BMO Rolls Out Strategist-Led ETFs and Gold Income Strategy
BMO Asset Management introduced a new suite of actively managed ETFs shaped by the insights of Brian Belski, Chief Investment Strategist at BMO Capital Markets. The funds reflect BMO’s broader investment themes and offer diversified equity exposure across Canadian and U.S. markets.
New launches include ZBCB (Canadian Core Plus US Balanced ETF) for a diversified blend of equities and fixed income, and ZBEC (Canadian Equity Plus ETF), which balances domestic stocks with a U.S. tilt. U.S. equity-focused options include ZBVU (Large Cap Value), ZBEU (Focused Growth), and ZBDU (Dividend Growth), each designed with clear strategic positioning. Several offer both hedged and unhedged units, giving investors more flexibility to manage currency risk.
Also joining BMO’s lineup is ZWGD, the Covered Call Spread Gold Bullion ETF. This unique product provides exposure to long-term gold bullion holdings while generating income through a covered call spread. It’s designed to enhance yield while helping to cushion downside moves in gold—an increasingly popular asset for diversification and inflation protection.
Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.
