Dividend Power Score
A single, comprehensive score designed to measure the true strength of a company’s dividend.
This score combines three essential pillars of dividend quality:
Consistency – Measures how reliable the dividend has been over time, focusing on payment history, stability, and the absence of cuts or suspensions.
Payability – Assesses the company’s financial ability to sustain its dividend, taking into account cash flow, earnings coverage, balance sheet strength, and overall financial health.
Growth – Evaluates the long-term growth of both the dividend and the company’s share price, highlighting businesses that consistently increase payouts while creating shareholder value.
Higher scores identify companies that have historically delivered dependable income alongside sustained dividend growth and long-term capital appreciation.
Company Overview
The iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (IUTSF) is an exchange-traded fund that provides investors with exposure to the Canadian equity market by tracking the S&P/TSX 60 Index, a market-capitalization-weighted index of 60 of the largest and most liquid companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The ETF operates within the asset management and financial services industry and is structured as a passive investment vehicle designed to replicate the performance of the underlying index, net of fees.
IUTSF represents the U.S. OTC-listed trading symbol for the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF, which is primarily listed in Canada under the ticker XIU. The fund is managed by BlackRock Canada, a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., and is positioned as a core Canadian equity holding for institutional and retail investors seeking broad, diversified exposure to leading Canadian companies across sectors such as financials, energy, materials, and industrials.
Business Operations
The ETF’s sole business operation is portfolio management in accordance with its investment objective, which is to track the S&P/TSX 60 Index as closely as possible. Revenue is generated indirectly through management fees charged to the fund, which compensate the manager for administration, portfolio management, custody oversight, and regulatory compliance. The ETF holds equity securities of its constituent companies and may use limited cash holdings or derivatives strictly for efficient portfolio management.
Operations are conducted primarily in Canada through BlackRock Canada, with additional distribution and trading access provided to U.S. investors via the OTC market under the IUTSF symbol. The fund relies on index data and methodology licensed from S&P Dow Jones Indices, while custody, fund accounting, and transfer agency services are provided by third-party financial institutions under contractual arrangements.
Strategic Position & Investments
Strategically, the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF is positioned as a flagship Canadian equity ETF within the broader iShares platform, emphasizing low-cost, transparent, and rules-based investing. Its strategy is strictly passive, with no active security selection, and portfolio changes occur only in response to index reconstitutions or corporate actions affecting index constituents.
The ETF does not pursue acquisitions or direct investments outside of index replication. Its strategic importance lies in scale, liquidity, and long operating history, which contribute to tight bid-ask spreads and high average daily trading volumes. As part of the broader BlackRock ecosystem, the fund benefits from continued investment in ETF infrastructure, risk management systems, and distribution capabilities, rather than standalone corporate expansion initiatives.
Geographic Footprint
The ETF is domiciled and regulated in Canada, with its primary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and secondary trading access in the United States via OTC markets. While the fund itself operates from Canada, its investor base is international, including Canadian, U.S., and global institutional investors seeking exposure to Canadian equities.
The underlying portfolio companies operate globally, giving the ETF indirect exposure to North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, depending on the international operations of index constituents. However, the ETF’s regulatory oversight, management, and primary market activity remain centered in Canada.
Leadership & Governance
The iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF does not have its own executive management team, as it is a pooled investment vehicle. Governance and management responsibilities are exercised by BlackRock Canada, under the oversight framework established by BlackRock, Inc. The leadership philosophy emphasizes fiduciary responsibility, risk management, and long-term investor outcomes through disciplined index-based investing.
Key executives responsible for the oversight of the ETF include:
- Rachel Lord – Head of International, BlackRock
- Mark Wiseman – Chair, BlackRock Alternatives
- Robert Goldstein – Chief Operating Officer, BlackRock
- Aparna Jain – Chief Financial Officer, BlackRock Canada
- John Kostyack – Head of iShares and Index Investments, Americas, BlackRock
These executives collectively guide strategic direction, operational integrity, and governance standards for the iShares ETF platform, including the iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF.