Let me clarify with an example. A hedge fund manager doesn't beat the S&P 500 consistently every year but when he does, his fund returns 80% vs. the S&P's 10%. Thus, even if he exited all his positions, his returns would still be higher than SPY for the next few years. ( i.e. Disregard annualized performance. I'm talking about multiple on invested capital at the end of say 50 years).

 
Most Helpful

I think you are messing up your math. Annualized performance (you can discuss if compounded, I.e. reinvested returns or not) is a metric that will give you that answer. If a fund underperforms for 10yrs and then has an 80% vs 10% yr, you will still see who “outperforms” based on annualized returns (that is the “lump sum” paid at the end, basically take $100 invested in both, annualized return when looking at the compounded metric is going to tell you which returns more money - that is how the math works). Although, in general, a good actively managed fund doesn’t make it all up in one year, but rather has consistent returns over time (outside of tail risk funds, etc).

Additionally, your example isn’t very likely, a more likely scenario is that a HF or actively managed fund outperforms during big downturns in the s&p and underperforms during outperformance by the s&p. 

What you normally see with actively managed funds (the “good” ones) is better ratio, fewer (and less severe) drawdowns, and uncorrelated to major indices (I.e. diversifying to a portfolio of equities or most major asset classes). 

 

looking at ex US data for passive vs active is an interesting exercise - i think for a lot of economies that cannot be expected to post strong long term secular growth (europe, japan), there is actually a decent case for active management if you have to have exposure to the region

 

Qui ratione nihil aut sunt. At facere labore magnam tenetur rerum ipsam. Aliquam quos voluptas necessitatibus vel qui veritatis incidunt magni. Optio voluptatum corrupti et ut voluptatem molestiae. Corrupti qui est mollitia odit illum optio sed. Neque eius mollitia mollitia impedit enim aspernatur. Magnam et consequatur ut omnis assumenda porro beatae.

Eaque iure ipsa repellendus atque quia quasi. Maiores pariatur aut et ut quae qui tempore. Aut facere corrupti necessitatibus asperiores corrupti nesciunt. Assumenda sit a sequi distinctio eos qui.

Nostrum ut libero earum ducimus quisquam eius reiciendis. Ut placeat omnis voluptas ad ratione ratione voluptatem. Provident placeat nobis soluta.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 98.9%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.9%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.8%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.8%
  • AQR Capital Management 94.7%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 98.9%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.8%
  • Blackstone Group 96.8%
  • Two Sigma Investments 95.7%
  • Citadel Investment Group 94.6%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 97.9%
  • D.E. Shaw 96.9%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.8%
  • Citadel Investment Group 94.8%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (23) $474
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (6) $322
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (24) $287
  • Manager (4) $282
  • Engineer/Quant (71) $274
  • 2nd Year Associate (30) $251
  • 1st Year Associate (73) $190
  • Analysts (225) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (22) $131
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (250) $85
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”