A side-by-side comparison of Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund ETF (PFIA) and CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Credit ETF C$ Series Units (CRED) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
CIBC Investor's Edge
Get 200 free trades when you open an eligible CIBC Investor's Edge account with promo code EDGE2026.
- ✓200 free stock & ETF trades
- ✓Unlimited commission-free trades on 180+ select ETFs
- ✓Offer ends September 30, 2026
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | PFIA | CRED |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -1.47% | -0.39%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.10% | 0.00%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +0.40%✓ | +0.10% |
| 1-Month Change | -0.20% | -0.35%✓ |
| Current Price | $10.04 | $20.19 |
| AUM | $452M✓ | $372M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0% | 0% |
| Dividend Yield | 4.68%✓ | 2.97% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | — |
| Inception Date | 2019-07-12 | 2020-01-23 |
| Holdings Count | 9 | 1 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Alternative Credit Focused | Alternative Credit Focused |
| Beta | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $10.08 | $20.24 |
| 52-Week Low | $9.57 | $19.56 |
| 50-Day MA | $10.02 | $20.20 |
| 200-Day MA | $10.14 | $20.24 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | PFIA | CRED |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -1.47% | -0.39%✓ |
| 1 Year | +3.79%✓ | +3.41% |
| 3 Year | +6.03%✓ | +5.45% |
| 5 Year | +3.45%✓ | +2.96% |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 1.49% | 1.52% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.23 | 1.02 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | Builders Firstsource, Inc. 6.75% | 3.84% | |
| 2 | iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corp Bd ETF | 3.67% | |
| 3 | Norbord Inc. 5.75% | 2.78% | |
| 4 | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc 9.88% | 2.73% | |
| 5 | MDC Partners Inc. 6.5% | 2.67% | |
| 6 | Parsley Energy LLC 5.62% | 2.67% | |
| 7 | Videotron LTD/ Videotron LTEE 4.5% | 2.48% | |
| 8 | Standard Chartered plc | 2.38% | |
| 9 | Navistar International Corporation 9.5% | 2.36% |
| 1 | XCB | iShares Core Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF | 7.55% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | PFIA | CRED |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.85% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 9.91% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 14.30% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 3.07% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 1.63% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 14.17% | 0.00% |
| Healthcare | 10.93% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 16.91% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 1.36% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 26.24% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.61% | 0.00% |
About PFIA
NA
About CRED
NA
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both PFIA and CRED are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, PFIA scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PFIA and CRED?
PFIA (Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund ETF) and CRED (CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Credit ETF C$ Series Units) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($452M vs $372M), dividend yield (4.68% vs 2.97%), and year-to-date performance (-1.47% vs -0.39%).
Is PFIA better than CRED?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy PFIA and CRED on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both PFIA and CRED should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
7 stocks to buy and hold forever
Complement your ETF portfolio with these proven long-term individual stocks.
Get the FREE Report