MPI Research

Leveraging our patented analytical models to examine and explore some of the most pressing issues in the investment community.

Crypto

Analysis of funds investing in various tokens and crypto stocks

We look at the universe of active crypto hedge funds and observe that by and large they delivered on the promise… at least the ones that survived so far.

Investors – and the Feds – need to focus less on specific stories like MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin exposure, and more on how big the systemic risk picture may be for all of us.

Risk

Using returns-based investment risk analytics to shine a brighter light into the dark areas of individual funds and investment portfolios.

Investors – and the Feds – need to focus less on specific stories like MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin exposure, and more on how big the systemic risk picture may be for all of us.

Using MPI’s Dynamic Style Analysis (DSA), we analyzed 600 equity hedge funds to assess their exposure to Russian equities

Opaque Investments

Better understanding complex and opaque products such as hedge funds through more dynamic analytical models.

Many high profile funds with set risk targets exhibit levels of volatility last seen only during the Global Financial Crisis. This and the disparity of results between funds in the category is the subject of this post.

Investors – and the Feds – need to focus less on specific stories like MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin exposure, and more on how big the systemic risk picture may be for all of us.

Smart Beta

Analyzing the opportunities and challenges tied to one of the fastest growing fund segments.

Investors have a tendency to downplay interest rate sensitivity as a factor influencing equity products, with the assumption being that its effect must be negligible at most. One of a handful of exceptions to that assumption, however, is concern over the rate sensitivity of low volatility “smart beta” funds.

Continuing our exploration into the smart beta segment (Part 1, Part 2), in this third post we introduce a simple “IQ Test” that can help investors and managers measure the “smartness” of the increasing number of non-cap-weight rules-based products on the market.

Target-Date Funds

A quantitative analytical series looking at one of the most popular retirement investing fund segments in the market.

In this post, our research team demonstrates how scenario analysis can highlight different risk sensitivities among same-vintage TDFs that could go undetected by traditional risk measures.

Morningstar’s 2017 Target Date Landscape Report indicates that approximately one quarter of TDF series shifted the target equity allocation of at least one vintage by 15% or more over the last 5 years and nearly half by at least 5%.

Endowments

A deeper look inside the investment returns of some of the most prestigious endowments in the world.

Ivy and elite endowments did poorly in fiscal year 2023, especially relative to a global 70/30 benchmark and smaller, less resourced endowments that invest in less private markets assets/funds than those employing the ‘Yale model’.

We provide some clues as to why some of the largest endowments have disappointing results in FY2023

Index Research

Provides insights into MPI Hedge Fund indices

Hedge Funds Have a Place in Investor Portfolios, They’re Just Too Darn Expensive and Not Easy to Pick

Developed through a partnership with BarclayHedge, a unique investable benchmark delivers consistent performance and low risk, while preserving downside protection benefits of the managed futures strategies.

Fund Research

Our library of individual fund and peer group analysis. Looking for a specific fund or peer group that you don't see? Let us know.

Many high profile funds with set risk targets exhibit levels of volatility last seen only during the Global Financial Crisis. This and the disparity of results between funds in the category is the subject of this post.

Risk parity strategies can look very different from each other in implementation.  They may have different risk budgets, risk targets, asset class buckets or even different definitions of risk. In this particular period, however, the disparity in performance is staggering.

The quantitative research and approach demonstrated in this white paper, helps to provide a useful and pragmatic framework for investment practitioners to screen for liquidity risks when selecting new fixed-income products, as well as when conducting ongoing monitoring of their current bond funds.

This white paper looks at the period of the increased volatility in the financial markets leading up to and on November 8th and provides valuable insights into internal workings of risk parity strategies during periods of heightened volatility.