Stock Market Neutral Funds
A market neutral fund is an investment strategy that seeks to exploit the discrepancies in the valuation of different stocks, sectors, markets, and industries by taking long and short positions simultaneously within the same portfolio to essentially “hedge out” the general movements of the overall stock market. The objective of a market neutral fund is to capture unsystematic, alpha-generating opportunities in individual equity and derivative markets that go beyond the broad-market performance of the underlying equity index.
Market neutral funds are made up of a portfolio of stocks or other securities such as bonds, derivatives, or options. These funds take both long and short positions at the same time, and can be structured to offset the risk associated with any long-only investments. As a result, the fund’s potential gains come from the spread between the security positions, not the market.
In order to understand the concept of market neutrality, it’s necessary to break down the two types of positions taken in a fund. A long position is when a portfolio positions itself as a holder of a security, and a short position is when a portfolio positions itself as a seller of a security. Market neutral funds address the market’s risk by both holding long and short positions simultaneously, thereby reducing the overall volatility inherent in a fund that is only long the market.
Market neutral funds offer the potential for significant alpha over a given time frame, brought about by their ability to invest across industries and markets. However, this type of fund strategy carries greater risk than a traditional long-only fund, given the potential for losses in both long and short positions due to market movements or the individual performance or volatility of the asset. Additionally, market neutral funds come with higher expenses than a traditional long-only fund due to the necessity of hedging.
For investors looking to diversify their portfolios and add a level of perceived stability, market neutral funds offer a solution for those looking to take a more active role in their investments. By having the ability to go both long and short, market neutral funds do not always move in lockstep with the broad market, which means that investors stand to benefit from a more balanced performance should the market go through a volatile period. This can be a big benefit for investors looking for alpha-generating opportunities across varying investment environments.
Although market neutral funds have the potential to deliver returns that are uncorrelated to the broad market, they come with their own set of risks. As mentioned, they can be expensive to manage due to the hedging strategies employed, as well as the amount of labor necessary to create, execute, and monitor the portfolio’s strategies. Additionally, the manager of the fund has a certain amount of discretion over the fund’s allocations, and some may have different levels of risk tolerance.
Overall, market neutral funds offer a viable way for investors to diversify their portfolios and add a measure of stability. However, investors should understand and evaluate the risks associated before investing in a market neutral fund, as well as the manager’s specific service offering. With the right knowledge and assessment of the fund’s strategy and risk profile, investors may find that market neutrality can work in their favor and help to achieve their investment goals.