Hedge funds hit a $4.5T high note in 2024

The hedge fund industry ended 2024 on a high note with $4.51 trillion in assets under management, marking a 9.75 percent increase from the prior year, according to HFR.

The $401.4 billion annual rise in AUM is the largest since 2021, driven by robust performance across equity, macro, and event-driven strategies. Despite net outflows of $12.57 billion in the fourth quarter, the sector recorded net inflows of $10.47 billion for the year, the first positive calendar year for inflows since 2021.

The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index posted a 9.83 percent gain in 2024. As noted by a Reuters report Saturday, that's significantly below the S&P 500's 23.3 percent return, yet reflective of hedge funds' ability to generate alpha through diversification and risk management in a challenging market. The industry’s growth since 2015 – a nearly 56 percent increase in AUM – has largely been performance-driven, as outflows have exceeded inflows by $166.8 billion over the past decade.

But Bank of America's latest hedge fund outlook suggests investor sentiment is warming. In a survey of 256 firms collectively managing over $1 trillion in hedge fund investments, 50 percent said they plan to increase allocations in 2025, up from 48 percent at the start of 2024. Meanwhile, the proportion of investors looking to pull their money fell to 7 percent, down from 12 percent in 2023.

Still, performance remains a sticking point. Among those planning to redeem capital, 73 percent cited underperformance as their main concern. Other frustrations included "style drift," where managers stray from their stated strategies, and crowded trades that can turn costly when markets shift, according to a separate Reuters report.

Concerns about large hedge funds’ ability to deploy capital nimbly and offer more favorable terms for investors are also on the rise. Smaller funds managing less than $500 million have fared better in retaining clients, while family offices and institutional allocators such as pensions and endowments have grown bolder in fully withdrawing from underperforming managers.

As the debate over fee alignment intensifies, allocators are demanding better value from hedge funds, particularly in the context of rising risk-free rates. A recent report by With Intelligence, a provider of investment intelligence for alternative assets, private markets, and public funds, highlighted growing support for cash hurdles, which ensure managers only receive performance fees after beating benchmark returns.

"The debate around the alignment of incentives between hedge funds and their clients has stepped up in the recent high-interest rate environment and is unlikely to quieten," the report noted.

In an analysis of data spanning from 1969 to the early 2000s, LCH Investments found hedge fund clients have generated $3.72 trillion in gross gains over that period while keeping nearly half that amount in fees.

The report from With highlighted that investors are negotiating for lower management fees in favor of performance-based incentives, particularly in separately managed accounts, which promise greater customization and fee transparency. However, top-performing funds delivering uncorrelated alpha in niche areas still command premium fees, with multimanagers dominating in their ability to dictate liquidity and cost terms.

"Weaker multi-manager performers are likely to start to feel more pressure," the report said. "Attempts to replicate pass-through structures by other types of managers to compete in the current talent environment will remain difficult given the differing investment return profiles."