The ETF Lab
ETF spotlight: Managing valuation risk with value investing
Why elevated equity valuations matter
A small group of mega-cap technology companies has driven much of the market's recent gains, pushing valuations well above long-term averages. While these companies continue to post strong fundamentals, elevated valuations leave less room for disappointment if earnings or economic conditions change.
A strategic allocation to value can complement growth exposure by broadening diversification, emphasizing current fundamentals and helping strengthen portfolio resilience.
1. A closer look at today's valuations
Recent market gains have been concentrated among a handful of mega-cap technology companies. As a result, many investors may have more exposure to these companies than they realize through market-cap weighted portfolios.
The NASDAQ trades at 32.7x earnings, compared with its 15-year average of 23.3x, while the S&P 500 trades at 26.9x versus its long-term average of 21.0x. These valuations reflect continued optimism but also leave less room for disappointment.
Source: Morningstar, As of June 30, 2026.
The concentration of elevated valuations is even more apparent among the market's largest companies.
Source: Morningstar, As of June 30, 2026.
2. The risk
High valuations often reflect expectations for continued earnings growth and supportive economic conditions. When expectations change, valuations can adjust quickly.
Many of today's market leaders are effectively priced for perfection. Even modest disappointments can have an outsized impact as investors reassess future growth expectations.
Risk | Role of value investing |
Macroeconomic uncertainty | Focus on current fundamentals |
Company-specific disappointments | Broaden diversification |
Concentrated market leadership | Identify long-term opportunities |
3. Strategic allocation to value
Growth companies remain an important part of diversified portfolios, but today's valuation environment reinforces the benefits of complementing growth exposure with value.
Value investing should be viewed as a strategic complement—not a replacement—for growth investing. By emphasizing attractively valued companies with strong fundamentals and broadening diversification, value strategies can help strengthen portfolio resilience through changing market environments.
Core value opportunities
Mackenzie offers two complementary value strategies that provide diversified exposure across US and global equity markets.
Mackenzie US Value Fund / ETF (MAUV)
Managed by Putnam Investments, MAUV invests in attractively valued US companies with strong fundamentals, healthy cash flows and dividend growth potential.
Mackenzie Global Value Fund / ETF (MAGV)
Managed by Barrow Hanley Global Investors, MAGV follows a disciplined global value approach, investing in attractively valued companies across developed and emerging markets.
ETF Name | Ticker | Management Fee |
MAGV | 0.80% | |
MAUV | 0.80% |
ETF news & notes
SEC reviews framework for novel ETFs
The SEC is reviewing whether its ETF framework remains appropriate for newer investment products, including crypto asset funds, single-stock ETFs, private asset funds and event-based strategies.
The consultation focuses on investment company eligibility, oversight of liquidity, valuation and investor protection, and whether first-of-their-kind ETF products should receive additional regulatory review.
While no rule changes have been proposed, the review highlights the continued evolution of the ETF industry and the SEC's focus on balancing innovation with investor protection.
ETF flows update
- Canadian ETFs surpassed $1 trillion in gross assets under management, marking a significant milestone for the industry.
- Year-to-date ETF inflows reached $115 billion as of July 17, led by equity ETFs ($67.8 billion), followed by asset allocation ETFs ($23.2 billion) and fixed income ETFs ($20.4 billion).
- International and global equity ETFs continued to attract the strongest regional inflows, while the Canadian ETF market now includes 2,041 listed ETFs.
Source: Bloomberg and TD. As of July 17, 2026.
Mackenzie ETF top performers
Equity ETFs
Fixed Income ETFs
Source: Mackenzie Investments, data as of July 20, 2026.
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