New Research Shows Activist Investor Popularity, Risk

New research shows activist hedge funds are more popular than ever, with assets under management and returns both at all time highs.  But a little discussed risk exists.

Activist investor portfolio track totals $176 billion

Soon to be published research from Novus, the New York City-based research that monitors hedge fund positions, points out the aggregate activist portfolio they track totals $176 billion as of June of 2014, totaling 9.3 percent of total hedge fund assets.  This compares to 3.9 percent of hedge fund assets controlled by activists in 2004, Novus says.  ValueWalk reviewed the study prior to its public release.

But most important are the returns. Novus notes that...