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Abstract:
Using a large sample of hedge fund manager characteristics, we provide one of the first comprehensive studies on the impact of manager characteristics, such as education and career concern, on hedge fund performances. We document differential ability among hedge fund managers in generating risk-adjusted returns and flow-chasing-return behaviors among hedge fund investors. In particular, we find that managers from higher-SAT undergraduate institutes tend to have higher raw and risk-adjusted returns, more inflows, and take less risks. Our results provide supporting evidence to some of the assumptions and implications of the rational theory of active portfolio management of Berk and Green (2004). However, in contrast to the results for mutual funds, we find a rather symmetric relation between hedge fund flows and past performance, and that hedge fund flows do not have a significant negative impact on future performance.

hedge fund performance, manager characteristics, hedge fund flows

Abstract:
The shape of the volatility smirk has significant cross-sectional predictive power for future equity returns. Stocks exhibiting the steepest smirks in their traded options underperform stocks with the least pronounced volatility smirks in their options by around 10.9% per year on a risk-adjusted basis. This predictability persists for at least six months, and firms with the steepest volatility smirks are those experiencing the worst earnings shocks in the following quarter. The results are consistent with the notion that informed traders with negative news prefer to trade out-of-the-money put options, and that the equity market is slow in incorporating the information embedded in volatility smirks.

stock return predictability, option-implied volatility smirks, cross-sectional asset pricing

Abstract:
Since the after-fee returns of funds-of-funds are, on average, lower than hedge fund returns, it is easy to conclude that funds-of-funds do not add value compared to hedge funds. However, funds-of-funds should not be evaluated relative to hedge fund returns in publicly reported databases. Instead, the correct fund-of-funds benchmark is the set of direct hedge fund investments an investor could achieve on her own without recourse to funds-of-funds. We use asset allocation concepts to estimate characteristics of the fund-of-funds benchmark distribution. Since the benchmark characteristics are reasonable, we conclude that funds-of-funds, on average, deserve their fees-on-fees.

Hedge funds, survivorship bias, performance evaluation, benchmarking, asset allocation

Abstract:
Since the after-fee returns of funds-of-funds are, on average, lower than hedge fund returns, it is easy to conclude that funds-of-funds do not add value compared to hedge funds. However, funds-of-funds should not be evaluated relative to hedge fund returns in publicly reported databases. Instead, the correct fund-of-funds benchmark is the set of direct hedge fund investments an investor could achieve on her own without recourse to funds-of-funds. We use asset allocation concepts to estimate characteristics of the fund-of-funds benchmark distribution. Since the benchmark characteristics are reasonable, we conclude that funds-of-funds, on average, deserve their fees-on-fees.

Abstract:
Since the after-fee returns in funds-of-funds are, on average, lower than hedge fund returns, it appears that funds-of-funds do not add value. However, we show that funds-of-funds should not be evaluated relative to hedge fund returns from reported databases. Instead, the correct fund-of-funds benchmark is the return an investor would achieve from direct hedge fund investments on her own without recourse to funds-of-funds. We use certainty equivalent concepts and revealed preference arguments to estimate attributes of the true, implied true fund-of-funds benchmark distribution. Since the benchmark characteristics seem reasonable, we conclude that, on average, funds-of-funds deserve their fees-on-fees.

hedge fund, fund-of-funds, portfolio allocation, certainty equivalent

Abstract:
Using a large sample of hedge fund manager characteristics, we provide one of the first comprehensive studies on the impact of manager characteristics, such as education and career concern, on hedge fund performances. We document differential ability among hedge fund managers in generating risk-adjusted returns and flow-chasing-return behaviors among hedge fund investors. In particular, we find that managers from higher-SAT undergraduate institutes tend to have higher raw and risk-adjusted returns, more inflows, and take less risks. Our results provide supporting evidence to some of the assumptions and implications of the rational theory of active portfolio management of Berk and Green (2004). However, in contrast to the results for mutual funds, we find a rather symmetric relation between hedge fund flows and past performance, and that hedge fund flows do not have a significant negative impact on future performance.

hedge fund performance, manager characteristics, hedge fund flows