Horizons ETFs Rebalances Marijuana-Focused ETFs

TORONTO, July 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. ("Horizons ETFs") has completed the quarterly rebalance of the constituent holdings of the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF ("HMMJ":TSX), the Horizons US Marijuana Index ETF ("HMUS":NEO) and the Horizons Emerging Marijuana Growers Index ETF ("HMJR":NEO).

HMMJ is the world's first ETF offering direct exposure to North American-listed securities that are involved with marijuana bioengineering and production. Once again, the ETF has added additional companies to its portfolio as more firms have become eligible for inclusion in its underlying index – the North American Marijuana Index.

The HMMJ portfolio recently expanded to include the following 10 constituents:

HMMJ is an index (or passively managed) ETF, which seeks to replicate, to the extent possible, the performance of the North American Marijuana Index, net of expenses. This index is designed to provide exposure to the performance of a basket of North American publicly listed life sciences companies with significant business activities in the Marijuana industry. The North American Marijuana Index selects from a current universe of companies that have operations that may include one or more of biopharmaceuticals, medical manufacturing, distribution, bio-products and other ancillary businesses related to the Marijuana industry.

"The last quarter was a difficult one for Marijuana-sector investors. After more than a 50% run-up in the value of HMMJ, performance in the sector tailed off. Nevertheless, HMMJ is still up more than 30% year to date, so it remains one of the strongest-performing equity sectors in 2019," said Steve Hawkins, President and CEO of Horizons ETFs. "During this rebalance, we saw a lot of U.S.-listed stocks enter the North American Marijuana Index, and by extension the ETF. Many of these producers, such as cbdMD and Youngevity International, are involved in the legal CBD and Hemp markets in the U.S. We expect that as the industry grows, so too will the number of U.S. legal CBD-focused firms that will qualify for index inclusion." 

Rebalancing of the North American Marijuana Index, and consequently HMMJ, occurs each calendar quarter. At that point, all stocks eligible for inclusion are generally re-weighted by their respective market capitalization. The holdings of HMMJ and its current portfolio weights are regularly updated and available at https://www.HorizonsETFs.com/HMMJ.

Performance UPDATE as at June 30, 2019^*

HMUS Rebalance

This was the first rebalance of HMUS since the ETF was launched in April. HMUS is the world's first U.S.-focused marijuana index ETF.

HMUS seeks to replicate, to the extent possible, the performance of the US Marijuana Companies Index, net of expenses. This index is designed to provide exposure to the performance of a basket of publicly listed companies having significant business activities in, or significant exposure to, the Marijuana or Hemp industries in the United States. Constituents of this index are selected from Canadian and U.S. exchanges. While some securities may be listed on major North American exchanges, the majority of the securities currently trade on North American exchanges that include but are not limited to the Canadian Securities Exchange and the NEO.

This rebalance included the addition of 11 new index constituents.

"Both medical and recreational marijuana usage are illegal at the federal level in the United States. However, that hasn't stopped the rapid growth of a large U.S. Marijuana industry that is centred around U.S. states where marijuana usage is legal. In fact, sales of cannabis-focused products in legal states already surpass the size of the entire Canadian market, according to ArcView Research," said Mr. Hawkins. "With the rapid expansion of the U.S. market, we are seeing a lot more companies eligible for index inclusion. Almost all of these companies are listed in Canada. The Canadian capital markets are providing early access to many companies that could be big leaders in the U.S. Cannabis business going forward."

Rebalancing of the US Marijuana Companies Index, and consequently HMUS, occurs each calendar quarter. At that point, all stocks eligible for inclusion are generally re-weighted by their respective market capitalization. The holdings of HMUS and its current portfolio weights are regularly updated and available at http://www.HorizonsETFs.com/HMUS.

HMJR Rebalance

HMJR seeks to replicate, to the extent possible, the performance of the Emerging Marijuana Growers Index, net of expenses. This index is designed to provide exposure to the performance of a basket of primarily North American publicly listed small-capitalization companies primarily involved in the cultivation, production and/or distribution of marijuana.

HMJR invests in companies with market capitalizations generally between CAD $50 million and CAD $500 million. The ETF's portfolio is 100% invested in marijuana producers and distributors, and it can have exposure to companies outside of North America.

The HMJR portfolio recently expanded to include the following 20 constituents:

"The HMJR portfolio had more than 20 names added to it this quarter. Many of these new constituents are companies focused on non-Canadian markets," said Mr. Hawkins. "HMJR now has significant exposure to emerging global Marijuana markets, including Australia, Israel, and of course the United States. Many of the new entrants to these markets start as smaller-capitalization stocks, meaning that HMJR tends to get exposure to the early entrants into new markets."

Rebalancing of the Emerging Marijuana Growers Index, and consequently HMJR, occurs each calendar quarter. At that point, all stocks eligible for inclusion are generally re-weighted by their respective market capitalization. The holdings of HMJR and its current portfolio weights are regularly updated and available at http://www.HorizonsETFs.com/HMJR.

About Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. (www.HorizonsETFs.com)

Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. is an innovative financial services company and offers one of the largest suites of exchange traded funds in Canada. The Horizons ETFs product family includes a broadly diversified range of solutions for investors of all experience levels to meet their investment objectives in a variety of market conditions. Horizons ETFs has more than $10 billion of assets under management and 90 ETFs listed on major Canadian stock exchanges. Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. is a member of the Mirae Asset Global Investments Group.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in exchange traded products (the "Horizons Exchange Traded Products") managed by Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. The Horizons Exchange Traded Products are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the Horizons Exchange Traded Products. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing.

There are risks associated with HMUS. HMUS is expected to invest in the Marijuana industry in certain U.S. states that have legalized marijuana for therapeutic or adult-use, which is currently illegal under U.S. federal law. HMUS will passively invest in companies involved in the marijuana industry in the U.S. where local state law regulates and permits such activities, as well as in companies involved in the Canadian legal Marijuana industry. HMUS will not be directly engaged in the manufacture, importation, possession, use, sale or distribution of marijuana in either Canada or the U.S. Please read the full risk disclosure in the prospectus before investing.

SOURCE Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc.