Burkett expands Canadian holdings
Burkett Asset Management Expands Canadian Portfolio with Major Stakes in Manulife, Royal Bank, and More
Key Points
Burkett’s new Manulife Financial position was 140,850 shares valued at about $5.122 million, making Manulife 5.2% of the portfolio and Burkett’s 5th biggest holding (per its Q4 SEC filing). The article also notes hedge funds and other institutions own 52.56% of Manulife stock.
Burkett’s Royal Bank of Canada stake was 42,556 shares worth approximately $7.265 million, representing 7.3% of its portfolio and the fund’s 2nd largest holding. The filing summary also highlights other investors’ moves, including Cerity Partners LLC increasing its position by 9.0% to 47,721 shares valued at about $6.279 million.
For Canadian National Railway, Burkett bought 55,967 shares valued at roughly $5.543 million; the stock accounts for about 5.6% of Burkett’s holdings and is its 3rd largest position. The article adds that CNI declared a quarterly dividend of $0.915 per share, with shares of record on June 9 and payment scheduled for June 30.
Burkett’s Aon plc purchase totaled 8,359 shares worth about $2.950 million, about 3.0% of its portfolio, and Aon is described as the fund’s 12th biggest holding. The article further states that 86.14% of Aon stock is held by hedge funds and other institutional investors, and cites Vestor Capital LLC’s 1,228.7% stake increase to 23,372 shares valued at about $8.248 million.
Burkett’s Brookfield Corporation acquisition was 115,786 shares valued at approximately $5.324 million, representing about 5.4% of its holdings and the fund’s 4th largest position. The article also notes institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.60% of Brookfield stock and details incremental additions by other investors (e.g., Hilltop National Bank boosting its stake by 49.9% to 724 shares worth about $33,000).
Burkett Asset Management quietly built a $26 million bet on Canadian blue-chip stocks in the fourth quarter, adding new positions in five major companies spanning banking, insurance, rail, and professional services. The biggest single move was 140,850 shares of Manulife Financial, worth about $5.12 million, making it the fund's 5th largest holding Watchlist News.
The buying spree signals a deliberate pivot toward what portfolio manager Kevin Burkett calls "durable businesses" built for the long haul. Royal Bank of Canada landed as the fund's 2nd largest position, while Canadian National Railway, Brookfield Corporation, and Aon plc rounded out a concentrated but globally diversified lineup Ticker Report.
Royal Bank Becomes Burkett's Second-Biggest Bet
Burkett bought 42,556 shares of Royal Bank of Canada for roughly $7.265 million. That single position now makes up 7.3% of the entire portfolio Ticker Report. For a mid-sized firm, putting more than one dollar in every fourteen into one stock is an unusually bold call.
Burkett was not alone in the trade. Cerity Partners LLC also raised its Royal Bank stake by 9.0%, reaching 47,721 shares valued at about $6.279 million Ticker Report. The parallel buying points to a broader institutional belief that Canada's largest banks offer stability other markets cannot match right now.
CN Railway Dividend Sweetens the $5.5 Million Rail Play
Burkett picked up 55,967 shares of Canadian National Railway for about $5.543 million, making it the fund's 3rd largest holding at 5.6% of assets Ticker Report. The timing looks deliberate. CN's board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.915 per share on April 29, with a record date of June 9 and payment on June 30.
Steady dividends from rail and insurance names like CNR and Manulife create a reliable income floor for the portfolio. If interest rates ease through the rest of 2026, analysts expect these high-dividend stocks to gain additional value on top of their payouts.
Aon Stake Signals a Global Hedge on Canadian Concentration
Burkett added 8,359 shares of Aon plc for around $2.950 million, placing the global risk consultancy 12th in the portfolio Watchlist News. Aon is heavily owned by institutions — hedge funds and big investors hold 86.14% of the stock. That high ownership level can mean lower liquidity when large holders move at once.
Vestor Capital LLC made an even louder statement on Aon, growing its stake by a staggering 1,228.7% to 23,372 shares worth about $8.248 million Watchlist News. The extreme jump suggests a major rotation by institutional money into professional services and global risk management — exactly the kind of non-Canadian exposure that can buffer a Canada-heavy book.
Brookfield Buy Caps a Concentrated Canada-First Strategy
Burkett's 115,786-share position in Brookfield Corporation cost roughly $5.324 million and became the fund's 4th largest holding at 5.4% of assets Watchlist News. Brookfield reported net income of $1.04 billion in Q1 2026 and announced plans to merge its corporate structure with its insurance business. President Nick Goodman said the move will "enhance capital efficiency and flexibility."
Institutional investors already own 61.60% of Brookfield. Smaller players like Hilltop National Bank are also buying in, adding shares to reach 724 held, worth about $33,000. The synchronized buying across firm sizes raises one clear risk: if Canada's economy stumbles, a rush for the exits by many holders at once could push prices down fast.
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