Side-by-Side Management of Hedge Funds and Mutual Funds

Posted: 17 May 2010

See all articles by Tom Nohel

Tom Nohel

Loyola University of Chicago

Z. Jay Wang

University of Oregon

Lu Zheng

University of California, Irvine - Paul Merage School of Business

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 2010

Abstract

We examine situations where the same fund manager simultaneously manages mutual funds and hedge funds. We refer to this as side-by-side management. We document 344 such cases involving 693 mutual funds and 538 hedge funds. Proponents of this practice argue that it is essential to hire and retain star performers. Detractors argue that the temptation for abuse is high, and the practice should be banned. Our analysis based on various performance metrics shows that side-by-side mutual fund managers significantly outperform peer funds, consistent with this privilege being granted primarily to star performers. Interestingly, side-by-side hedge fund managers are at best on par with their style category peers, casting further doubt on the idea that conflicts of interest undermine mutual fund investors. Thus, we find no evidence of welfare loss for mutual fund investors due to exploitation of conflicts of interest.

Keywords: G1, G2, G3, G23, G34

Suggested Citation

Nohel, Tom and Wang, Z. Jay and Zheng, Lu, Side-by-Side Management of Hedge Funds and Mutual Funds (June 2010). The Review of Financial Studies, Vol. 23, Issue 6, pp. 2342-2373, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1607515 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhq008

Tom Nohel

Loyola University of Chicago ( email )

820 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
312-915-7065 (Phone)
312-915-8508 (Fax)

Z. Jay Wang

University of Oregon ( email )

1280 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

Lu Zheng

University of California, Irvine - Paul Merage School of Business ( email )

Paul Merage School of Business
Irvine, CA California 92697-3125
United States
9498248365 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
983
PlumX Metrics