OMERS earns 4.8% net return in first half of year

Toronto-based pension fund manager OMERS reported a 4.8 percent net return for the first half of 2026, driven by investments in public equities. The Ontario fund's net assets reached $151.6 billion by June 30, up $6.9 billion from the start of the year. OMERS chief financial and strategy officer Jonathan Simmons highlighted that all asset classes contributed to the return, but publicly traded company shares were the top performers.

The fund's $1 billion investment in Canadian equities in the first half of the year is expected to expand in sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, hotels, and technology. OMERS has increased its pension plan contributions by more than $78 billion over the past ten years, with roughly half of its holdings remaining in the United States and a quarter domestically.