The managers running the biggest active funds picked stocks that beat the market in 2025 — and most still lagged their benchmark. A Morningstar do-nothing experiment and a body of academic research explain why active funds underperform even when the picking is good: skilled buying undone by poor selling, the hidden cost of trading, and the incentives that keep managers churning. The UK evidence points the same way.
The S&P 500's concentration in the Magnificent Seven has critics worried about indexing risk. But Hendrik Bessembinder's research reveals why index concentration actually strengthens the case for passive investing: just 4% of stocks drive all market returns, and active managers consistently miss these winners. Historical data shows market concentration has been normal for 150 years, from railroads to tech giants.
Robin Powell
Sep 9, 20258 min read
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