Buffett backs a winner as index tracker beats hedge funds

clock

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett looks set to win a $1m bet that the humble index tracker will produce better returns than a complex hedge fund.

In 2008 Buffett made a bet with American asset management firm Protege Partners that the S&P 500 would outperform a group of five hedge funds over 10 years. The results of the seventh year of the bet show Buffett and the index tracking fund are decisively in the lead, the Telegraph reports. In 2014 the S&P 500 tracker fund chosen to represent the index in the bet rose by 13.6%. The average gain for the hedge funds was just 5.6%, according to Fortune magazine, which has been monitoring the bet annually. Since the bet was taken out, the index fund has risen 63.5%. The hedge fun...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

How quality investing behaves through the cycle

How quality investing behaves through the cycle

Resilience when it matters more

Joseph Stephens and Laura Neill
clock 14 September 2026 • 4 min read
Why portfolios need to evolve, not revolve when it comes to client outcomes

Why portfolios need to evolve, not revolve when it comes to client outcomes

'As market structures evolve, so must portfolio construction'

Ed Senior
clock 11 September 2026 • 4 min read
What does 'quality' investing actually mean?

What does 'quality' investing actually mean?

Why persistence is the real test

Joseph Stephens and Laura Neill
clock 11 September 2026 • 4 min read