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Journal of Finance Vol. 55 No. 4 2000

Mutual Fund Performance: An Empirical Decomposition into Stock‐Picking Talent, Style, Transactions Costs, and Expenses

Russ Wermers

University of Maryland, College Park

Abstract

We use a new database to perform a comprehensive analysis of the mutual fund industry. We find that funds hold stocks that outperform the market by 1.3 percent per year, but their net returns underperform by one percent. Of the 2.3 percent difference between these results, 0.7 percent is due to the underperformance of nonstock holdings, whereas 1.6 percent is due to expenses and transactions costs. Thus, funds pick stocks well enough to cover their costs. Also, high‐turnover funds beat the Vanguard Index 500 fund on a net return basis. Our evidence supports the value of active mutual fund management.

DOI
10.1111/0022-1082.00263
Volume
55
Issue
4
Pages
1655-1695
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib

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