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.
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.
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for fourth quarter 2017. The median US Growth Equity ex Small-Cap manager posted the highest median return for fourth quarter 2017, returning 6.8%. Emerging & Frontier Markets Equity managers posted the best returns for the one-year period ending December 31, 2017, with a median return of 36.8%. The median US Intermediate-Term Bonds manager posted the lowest median return for fourth quarter 2017 (0.0%), while the median Cash Management return was lowest for the one-year period ending December 31, 2017 (1.1%).
Our quarterly report summarizes asset allocation and total investment performance for over 400 of Cambridge Associates’ US endowment and foundation clients. In addition, the report contains tables and charts that show returns and asset allocation by peer type and asset size.
Second quarter 2017 US private equity performance was quite strong, while US venture capital performance was more middling, as indicated by the Cambridge Associates LLC benchmark indexes of the two alternative asset classes.
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for third quarter 2017. The median Global ex US Small-Cap Equity manager posted the highest median return for both third quarter 2017 and the one-year period ending September 30, 2017, returning 8.6% and 23.6% for the respective periods. The median Cash Management manager posted the lowest median return for third quarter 2017 (0.3%), while the US REITs median return was lowest for the one-year period ending September 30, 2017 (0.4%).
Slowing buyback activity is a sure sign it’s getting late in the current market cycle, but we expect buybacks to continue fueling the market for now.
Our biannual report summarizes asset allocation for 100 of Cambridge Associates’ US-based private clients.
Our quarterly report summarizes asset allocation and total investment performance for over 400 of Cambridge Associates’ US endowment and foundation clients. In addition, the report contains tables and charts that show returns and asset allocation by peer type and asset size.
The Cambridge Associates LLC US Private Equity Index® returned 3.9%, slightly lower than its fourth quarter performance. Rebounding from a tough fourth quarter, the Cambridge Associates LLC US Venture Capital Index® returned 3.3%.