Toronto-based Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. has launched two new exchange traded funds (ETFs) that it says will provide investors with the lowest-cost ETF exposure to the financials and energy sectors of the Canadian stock market.

Horizons S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF (TSX:HXF) and the Horizons S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF (TSX:HXE) began trading today on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

HXF seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P/TSX Capped Financial Index (Total Return, while HXE seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index (Total Return).

Both funds have an annual management fee of 0.35%, plus applicable sales taxes. That’s almost 40% less expensive than the next lowest-cost ETF tracking the same index, Horizons says.

“Other issuers have similar ETFs, but we wanted to bring to market products with lower costs, reduced potential for tracking error and more tax efficiency,” said Howard Atkinson, president of Horizons ETFs.

Both HXF and HXE use the same total return swap structure as the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (TSX:HXT) and the Horizons S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:HXS). This structure allows for lower management fees and greater tax efficiency. Since the value of any dividend distributions paid out by index constituents is reflected in the total return of the index and therefore an ETF’s net asset value (NAV), these ETFs do not make taxable distributions of those dividends. The only tax implications for an individual investor in HXF or HXE will generally occur when that investor sells their units on an exchange for a capital gain (or loss).

“The S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index is a particularly dividend-rich index, delivering an average annual dividend yield of 4% over the last five calendar years,” Atkinson notes. “Some Canadian investors could see more than a quarter of those distributions going to taxes. The HXE and HXF structure essentially defers this dividend tax liability, so that individual investors only pay taxes when they sell their ETF units on an exchange for a capital gain.”

Horizons ETFs extends fee rebate on HXT

To mark the three-year anniversary of the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (TSX:HXT), Horizons ETFs is extending HXT’s fee rebate for another year.

Launched in September 2010, HXT seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Total Return). The S&P/TSX 60 Index is comprised of the 60 largest Canadian stocks and represents more than 70% of the market capitalization of the Canadian stock market.

The fee rebate of two basis points (or 0.02%) will remain in effect for another 12 months, continuing the annual management fee investors pay on HXT at five basis points (or 0.05%) plus applicable sales taxes until at least Sept. 30, 2014.

At half the cost of other ETFs tracking the S&P/TSX 60 Index, HXT is the lowest-cost ETF listed in Canada and the lowest-cost Canadian stock index ETF in the world, Horizons notes.

To help reduce trading cost for investors on a per-unit basis, HXT recently consolidated its units 1:2 after the close on September 6.