i³ Investments™

IntelligenceCubed: AI x Human x Innovation

i3 Investments™ seeks to add value through a fusion of Artificial Intelligence, Human Intelligence, and Innovation

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI¹) are in Guardian Capital's DNA. We use it to inform our decisions and seek to improve our efficiency in stock picking.

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Human Intelligence

Human Intelligence

Human Intelligence is still required. Data science is combined with the fundamental views of portfolio managers striving to uncover the most compelling insights generated by the model.

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Innovation

Innovation

In the hands of experienced portfolio managers, AI and data science offer opportunities for early price discovery and potential for enhanced risk-adjusted investment outcomes.

AI Analytics

Combining Human Intelligence with AI

Using a proprietary AI analytics model², refined for almost a decade, the i3 Investments™ Team³ at Guardian Capital LP combines human intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI), seeking to optimize their investment process and help advisors and investors succeed in today's market.

Why AI? Turning Predictions into Decisions

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  • The i3 Investments™ Team uses AI to seek more precise and consistent predictive power when analyzing securities, which may empower, accelerates and optimize security selection by the team and their portfolio process.
  • The i3 Investments™ Team's approach encompasses a range of AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and AI-enabled image analysis4 to power the team's overarching proprietary AI analytics model – the Global Equity Model for the Next Generation, which The i3 Investments™ Team calls GEMX⁵.
  • GEMX is not a substitute for The i3 Investments™ Team portfolio managers and their investment decision-making; rather, it is what team refers to as a "digital analyst." GEMX provides an edge in terms of generating investment ideas and uncovering opportunities, which the i3 Investments™ Team's experienced portfolio managers then ultimately decide whether or not to act upon.

The i3 Investments™ Approach: GPS

The i³ Investments™ team centers their approach on finding resilient companies that exhibit strong dividend Growth, quality Payout, and Sustainability of cash flows (also known as their "GPS")

Growth

GROWTH

With the help of the i3 Investments™ Team's proprietary AI-powered investment process, they seek to identify new and meaningful ways to evaluate companies that go beyond traditional financial metrics. This process seeks to identify companies with the potential to deliver consistent revenue and earnings growth to generate long-term returns.

Payout

PAYOUT

The i3 Investments™ Team's innovative AI-driven approach seeks to identify companies with attractive total return potential consisting of not only price appreciation but also shareholder yield, which can include a payout of dividends or share buybacks.

Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY OF CASH FLOWS

The AI model helps us zero in on companies with higher probabilities of strong and sustainable free cash flow8 growth and growing payouts over time.

POWERED BY AI, STEERED BY HUMANS

Guardian Capital Global Dividend Growth ADR     Guardian Capital U.S. Dividend Growth

Our Competitive Edge

WE DON'T FOLLOW THE MARKET - WE ANTICIPATE IT

The i3 Investments™ Team believes their edge lies in GEMX's predictive power. By rapidly analyzing vast datasets with great speed, scale and granularity, GEMX provides insights beyond the reach of traditional analyst teams. This unique perspective allows their team to look at companies in a fresh way, which may empower portfolio managers to make decisions with a level of insight and data not readily available to end investors or most portfolio management teams.

Rapid adaptation

Rapid adaptation to fast-moving market events

Constant analysis

Constant analysis of non-linear data, enhancing the accuracy of earnings growth and dividend predictions

Expanded research

Expanded research capabilities to scour a broader opportunity set and pinpoint companies with the highest probability of beating the market

Real-time monitoring

Real-time monitoring of downside risks

Rigorous data monitoring

Rigorous data monitoring builds conviction in Guardian Capital's investment strategies

Our Investment Process

OPERATING AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTELLIGENCE AND INNOVATION

The i3 Investments™ Team blends the experience and expertise of their portfolio managers with cutting-edge technologies for idea generation that they believe has the ability to enhance investment outcomes.

GEMX

GEMX

  • Built to forecast drivers of earnings, dividends, and free cash flow
  • Seeks to predict changes to risk of drop in earnings and dividends
  • Analyze and score each opportunity relative to global peers
Portfolio Review

PORTFOLIO REVIEW

  • Analyze the securities and validate the factors
  • Focus on positive signals emerging from the model's insights and rankings
  • Qualitative research and analysis
  • Assessment of the sector and macro environment
Portfolio Construction

PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION

  • Stock selection and risk management is the sole responsibility of the portfolio management team
  • Opportunities evaluated by potential, conviction and contribution to the overall portfolio
  • Focused on diversification across income producing sectors of the economy

Using AI Prediction to Seek Better Outcomes

The i3 Investments™ Team continuously monitors the investment universe, striving to identify developing opportunities well in advance of the broader market. They believe this approach has set our team apart:

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All the stocks in the Guardian Capital Global Dividend Growth Fund’s portfolio have raised their payouts in the past 12 months6

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There hasn’t been one dividend cut by a company held in the portfolio in the entire history of the Guardian Capital Global Dividend Growth Fund strategy.6

Meet the i³ Investments™ Team
of Guardian Capital LP3

Experienced professionals combining financial expertise with AI innovation

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Sri Iyer
Sri Iyer MBA

Managing Director, Head of i3 Investments™

Fiona Wilson
Fiona Wilson MBA, CFA

Sr. Portfolio Manager

Adam Cilio
Adam Cilio CFA, MMF, FRM

Sr. Portfolio Manager, Engineer

Yvonne Jin
Yvonne Jin CFA, MMF, FRM

Portfolio Manager, Engineer

DATA SCIENCE AND VISUALIZATION

Saravanan Mani
Saravanan Mani MScAC

Software Engineer

Joel Elford
Joel Elford MSc

Data Scientist

Arushi Ahuja
Arushi Ahuja MSc

Data Scientist

Alberto Seabrac
Alberto Seabrac MSc

Data Scientist

GEMX AI System
GEMX AI System ⁴

Digital Analyst

CLIENT SERVICE

James Francis
James Francis ⁷ MBA, CAIA

Client Portfolio Manager

The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charter is a graduate-level investment credential awarded by the CFA Institute, the largest global association of investment professionals. To earn the CFA charter, candidates must: 1) pass three sequential, six-hour examinations; 2) have at least four years of qualified professional investment experience; 3) join CFA Institute as members; and 4) commit to abide by, and annually reaffirm, their adherence to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

The Financial Risk Manager (FRM) is a premier global certification for risk management professionals, awarded by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). It certifies expertise in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks, including credit, market, and operational risks, aimed at professionals managing financial risk. 

The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® (CAIA) charter is a graduate-level alternative investment credential awarded by the CAIA Association, a global provider of Alternative Investment education. To earn the CAIA, candidates must: 1) pass two sequential examinations.

Guardian Capital Global Dividend Growth ADR strategy and Guardian Capital U.S. Dividend Growth strategy are managed by Guardian Capital LP, a Canadian-based portfolio manager registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators, and a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor an endorsement by the SEC. Investment Advisory Services are provided by the following subsidiaries of Guardian Capital Group Limited: Alta Capital Management, LLC (“Alta”), Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling”) and GCLP. Each of these three firms are investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain employees of Sterling are registered representatives of Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Services, LLC, which is not affiliated with Alta, Sterling or GCLP. In addition to the marketing of Alta and/or Sterling products and services, Alta and Sterling are also promoters of GCLP’s investment services and strategies in the U.S.

1 AI: Artificial Intelligence is focused on building systems that are able to perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as understanding a language, recognizing patterns, and decision making. The i3 Investments™ team leverages the predictive power of AI to help identify pockets of strength in the equity universe.

2 The i3 Investments™ Team combines quantitative and fundamental analysis in managing investment portfolios. The quantitative component of the team’s investment process has evolved as new tools and datasets have become available and, over time, new quantitative models which incorporate aspects of artificial intelligence have been incorporated. The i3 Investments™ Team provides a modern approach to portfolio construction, combining the advantages of quantitative analysis, big data, and artificial intelligence with the experience, perspective, and decision-making of Guardian Capital's investment team. The application of quantitative investment analysis that incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning in a forecast model is forward-looking, and the simulated results are subject to inherent limitations. Investment strategies which rely on predictive artificial intelligence and quantitative models may perform differently than expected, as a result of, among other things, the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors’ historical trends and the limitations of technology in the construction and implementation of the models. There is no guarantee that the use of the quantitative model and artificial intelligence will result in effective investment decisions. There are no guarantees that dividend-paying stocks will continue to pay dividends. All investments are subject to risk, including loss. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

3 i3 Investments™ Team is a portfolio management team with Guardian Capital LP, a Canadian-based portfolio manager registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators, and a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor an endorsement by the SEC.

4 Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables a system to autonomously learn and improve using neural networks and deep learning, without being explicitly programmed, by feeding it large amounts of data; Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a machine learning technology that gives computers the ability to interpret, manipulate, and comprehend human language; and Image analysis involves processing an image into fundamental components to extract meaningful information.

5 GEMX is the i3 Investments™ Team’s proprietary analytics model, incorporating AI into a multi-factor algorithm programmed and trained by the i³ Investments™ Team.

6 Both of these statements are accurate as of December 31, 2025.

7 James Francis is employed by Alta Capital Management, LLC, a U.S.-based affiliate of Guardian Capital LP (GCLP), and is engaged in the marketing and promotion of GCLP’s investment products and services.

8 Free cash flow (FCF) is the actual cash a company generates after covering its operating expenses and capital expenditures. It represents the discretionary funds available for debt repayment, dividends, or reinvestment into growth, and is considered a primary indicator of a business's true financial health.