Should US Equity Investors Fret About Rising Yields?
Not in the near term. The current environment of rising, but low, interest rates accompanied by strong earnings growth expectations is supportive for equities.
Research Publications Archive
Decades of Data: 1900–2017
In over 40 different analyses and 100 charts, our annual report on the history of global markets provides context for the range of returns investors can expect from equities, bonds, and cash; reveals the importance of various components of equity returns; examines the evidence for equity mean reversion; and reviews the relationship between initial valuations…
Global ex US Equity Manager Performance: 2017
In 2017, 75.8% of active Global ex US managers outperformed the MSCI EAFE Index gross of fees, with the median manager outperforming by 260 basis points. This chart book is our annual summary of the absolute and relative performance of managers that report to our database.
US Mid- to Large-Cap Equity Manager Performance: 2017
Despite strong overall returns, active managers continued their now four-year streak of underperformance against the index, with 54.4% underperforming (gross of fees) in 2017. For the year, the median US mid- to large-cap manager underperformed the Russell 1000® Index by 70 basis points. This chart book is our annual summary of the absolute and relative performance of managers that report to our database.
Should Investors Be Concerned that the Number of Listed US Stocks Has Dropped by Half Since 1996?
No. The US public equity market remains the largest and most liquid in the world and continues to offer a robust opportunity set for investors.
Distressed Debt: A New Way to Categorize Managers
As the economic cycle progresses, the next recession draws inexorably closer, bringing with it the next downturn in the credit cycle. Recognizing this, institutional investors are increasingly considering allocations to distressed debt managers. While lumping all distressed managers into one group is tempting, different managers have meaningfully different approaches and investors’ traditional way of thinking about distressed debt managers makes timing paramount. In this paper, we offer a new way to think about distressed investing that combines three complementary sub-strategies and encourages investors to allocate across the credit cycle.
With the Recent Surge in Volatility, Should Investors Modify Their Asset Allocation or Exit Systematic Strategies?
No, most investors should sit tight. The persistence of strong corporate and macroeconomic fundamentals in the face of the recent sell-off and spike in volatility strongly suggests that the duration of the market rout should be limited.
College and University Investment Pool Returns: Fiscal Year 2017
This report summarizes portfolio returns, asset allocation, and related trends for 164 colleges and universities. Included are exhibits on asset class returns, performance attribution, risk analytics, policy portfolio benchmarking, and uncalled capital commitments to private investments. The report also contains sections on investment management structures and flows to and from the long-term investment portfolio. Finally, this year’s report includes a new section that looks at topics pertaining to governance and investment office staffing.
Is the Environment for Active Management Improving?
We are asked this question on a regular basis, but believe it is fundamentally the wrong question for investors to ask if they are seeking to outperform the market over the long term.
Australia Outlook 2018: Reaching a Tipping Point
Though the risk from rising rates is potentially higher in Australia than elsewhere given household debt levels and the state of the housing market, we judge the risks and outlook as balanced and advise investors to remain neutral on equities and risk.