Canadian Plan Sponsors Post Negative Median Returns in Q3, According to the BNY Canadian Asset Strategy View Universe

Positive returns across most equity and alternative asset classes were offset by weakness in Canadian fixed income

TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- The median return of the BNY Canadian Asset Strategy View universe, a BNY Global Risk Solutions fund-level tracking service, was -0.57% for the third quarter of 2026. The one-year median return as of September 30, 2026, was 7.53%, while the median 10-year annualized return was 6.87%.

The BNY Canadian Asset Strategy View universe results are based on $357 billion worth of investment assets in Canadian investment plans, with the average plan size of $5.67 billion. The universe is designed to provide peer comparisons by plan type and size, and it comprises 63 Canadian corporate, public and university pension plans, foundations and endowments. Additional insight into the plan results is provided by BNY's Asset Strategy View sub asset class universes.

"Financial markets contended with higher oil prices, persistent inflation and trade uncertainty during the quarter. At the same time, strong corporate earnings and continued investment in artificial intelligence helped support equity markets, particularly in the U.S.," said David Cohen, Director of Global Risk Solutions Canada, BNY. "Canadian pension plans posted a negative median return for the quarter, with positive returns across most equity and alternative asset classes offset by weakness in Canadian fixed income."

Among traditional asset classes, Global Equity posted the highest performance, with a quarterly median return of 1.41%, followed by International Equity returning 1.25%.

With respect to non-traditional asset classes, Private Equity reported the strongest performance, with a quarterly median return of 2.24%. Real Estate ended the quarter with a median return of 0.83% while Hedge Funds delivered a quarterly return of 0.42%.

Q3 2026 Highlights of the BNY Canadian Asset Strategy View Universe

• The BNY Asset Strategy View universe of Canadian pension plans over $1 billion in AUM trailed slightly compared to the median return of the Total Canadian Asset Strategy View Universe in Q3 2026.
• Canadian Foundations & Endowments posted a median performance of -0.10% for the third quarter, exceeding both the Corporate and Public Pension Plans.
• Major equity segments had mixed results in Q3. 
  • Canadian Equity posted a median return of 0.45% in the third quarter, trailing the S&P/TSX Composite Index return of 1.62%.
  • U.S. Equity posted a median return of 0.51%, falling short of the S&P 500 Index return of 2.38%.
  • Global Equity reported a median return of 1.41% in Q3, trailing the MSCI World Index return of 2.03%.
  • International Equity posted a quarterly median return of 1.25%, beating the MSCI EAFE Index return of 0.95%.
• Emerging Markets Equity posted a median performance for the quarter of -1.20%, trailing the MSCI Emerging Markets Index return of -0.17%.
• The Canadian Fixed Income median return was -4.06% in the third quarter of 2026. Fixed Income underperformed the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index for the quarter, which returned -2.96%.
• Private Equity reported a quarterly median return of 2.24% for the third quarter.  Real Estate reported a quarterly median return of 0.83%.  Hedge Funds reported a return of 0.42%.

BNY Canadian Asset Strategy View Universe Median Plan Returns*

Universe Medians	Q3 2026	One-Year	Three-Years	Five-Years	Ten-Years
Canadian Asset Strategy View Total Fund	-0.57	7.53	10.74	6.17	6.87
Canadian Equity	0.45	18.75	21.79	13.97	11.83
U.S. Equity	0.51	17.36	19.59	13.77
International Equity	1.25	21.41	22.57	12.93	10.66
Global Equity	1.41	17.83	21.74	13.06	13.32
Canadian Fixed Income	-4.06	-1.54	5.27	0.38	1.58
Canadian Foundations & Endowments	-0.10	10.52	14.37	8.57	8.66
Canadian Public Pension Plans	-0.53	8.94	12.45	7.82	7.67
Canadian Corporate Pension Plans	-1.76	5.18	9.77	5.83	6.00

*All returns are posted gross of fee results, calculated in Canadian dollars.

About CIBC Mellon

CIBC Mellon is celebrating its 30^th year as a Canadian company exclusively focused on the investment servicing needs of Canadian institutional investors and international institutional investors into Canada. Founded in 1996, CIBC Mellon is 50-50 jointly owned by The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). CIBC Mellon's investment servicing solutions for institutions and corporations are provided in close collaboration with our parent companies, and include custody, multicurrency accounting, fund administration, recordkeeping, pension services, exchange-traded fund services, securities lending services, foreign exchange processing and settlement, and treasury services. As at June 30, 2026, CIBC Mellon had more than C3.6 trillion of assets under administration on behalf of banks, pension funds, investment funds, corporations, governments, insurance companies, foreign insurance trusts, foundations and global financial institutions whose clients invest in Canada. CIBC Mellon is part of the BNY Mellon network, which as at June 30, 2026, had US$62.6 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration. CIBC Mellon is a licensed user of the CIBC trade-mark and certain BNY trade-marks, is the corporate brand of CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, and may be used as a generic term to refer to either or both companies.

Information containing any historical information, data or analysis should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis, forecast or prediction. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Information should not be relied on and is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment and other business decisions. None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), any security, financial product or other investment vehicle or any trading strategy. Some products or services are available only through BNY.

For more information, including CIBC Mellon's latest knowledge leadership on issues relevant to institutional investors active in Canada, visit www.cibcmellon.com. 

Media Contact:

Alexandra DeCata, Corporate Communications, CIBC Mellon, 416-643-6126, [e-mail]

SOURCE CIBC Mellon