Fund performance

If clients “looked just three months ago, these numbers would be glaringly different,” an expert says.

The firm has struggled to make money this year amid the market volatility sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds have recorded $248 billion in net inflows in 2020, up about 5% from this time last year.

The alternative asset manager surpassed its previous peak from the fourth quarter of 2017.

The 20 top-performers have generated gains well over 50% in the first seven months of the year.

A combination of GLD’s higher fees and an almost relentless demand for the yellow metal have catapulted it from fourth on the revenue leader board in 2017.

Despite growing to about $1.1 trillion in AUM, senior executives made a series of bets to keep pace in a changing industry that have yet to pay off.

An iShares ETF investing in companies it says has “positive environmental, social and governance characteristics” has more than tripled gains of the S&P 500.

Despite besting the broader market over the long-term, those at the top have underperformed in the first half of 2020.

“The primary drawback of fewer hedge fund filings is lack of clarity around crowding risk,” strategists from the firm write.