Absolute Return

What does it Mean? The return that an asset achieves over a certain period of time. This measure looks at the appreciation or depreciation (expressed as a percentage) that an asset - usually a stock or a mutual fund - achieves over a given period of time.

Absolute return differs from relative return because it is concerned with the return of a particular asset and does not compare it to any other measure or benchmark.
Investopedia Says... In general, a mutual fund seeks to produce returns that are better that its peers, its fund category, and/or the market as a whole. This type of fund management is referred to as a relative return approach to fund investing. As an investment vehicle, an absolute return fund seeks to make positive returns by employing investment management techniques that differ from traditional mutual funds.

Absolute return investment techniques include using short selling, futures, options, derivatives, arbitrage, leverage and unconventional assets.

Alfred Winslow Jones is credited with forming the first absolute return fund in New York in 1949. In recent years, this so-called absolute return approach to fund investing has become one of the fastest growing investment products in the world and is more commonly referred to as a hedge fund. 

Terms Related Links

Appreciation
Benchmark
Depreciation
Hedge Fund
Index Hugger
Market Neutral
Mutual Fund
Relative Return
Return
Total Return

Terms Related Links
Overcoming Compounding's Dark Side - Understanding how money is made and lost over time can help you improve your returns.

Special Feature: Mutual Funds - Mutual funds are an inexpensive and easy way to benefit from diversification and professional management. See our mutual fund feature for everything you need to know.

Introduction To Hedge Funds - Part One - Learn everything you need to know about the characteristics and strategies of hedge funds.

Introduction To Hedge Funds - Part Two - Discover the advantages and pitfalls of hedge funds and the questions to ask when choosing one.

What's the difference between absolute and relative return?




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