Hedge Fund Investing During a Time of War

Like the 2020 edition, this year’s survey collides with a seismic event — a geopolitical shock wrapped around soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and weakened supply chains. Several key takeaways: Over the past five years through 2021, the Top 50 hedge funds collectively generated net annualized returns that trailed a red-hot S&P 500 by just several percentage points, but did so with significantly less risk. The group’s largely uncorrelated returns produced a 5-year Sharpe Ratio that was more than 60 bps higher than the market. Equity, multistrategy, and credit funds led the way, and nearly half of the Top 50 were smaller funds, managing less than $1 billion.

As was shown in the 2020 survey, the current Top 50 funds have again preserved capital better than the S&P 500 during the first quarter drawdown. They delivered positive returns, having outpaced a declining market by more than 7 percentage points through March.

This year’s survey includes interviews with leading managers and allocators from Citadel, Amundi, Generali, EFG International, NS Partners, along with six hedge fund managers who made this year’s Top 50.

Download the report to learn more.