Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (2024)

ACTIVE INVESTING

Finding the best investing opportunities can be challenging, especially in volatile markets. Our active investors – across all asset classes, regions, and sectors – are always searching for investing opportunities that can empower people to build savings, accrue wealth, and meet the financial goals that matter most to them.

MEET THE EXPERTS

Born from a healthy curiosity

Combining the advantages of our “always-on” active investing platform to find alpha with our culture of collaborative intelligence gives our team the conviction needed to follow through on meaningful investment ideas. Watch some of our active investing leaders discuss their roles at BlackRock.

Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (1)

Rick Rieder

Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income

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Carrie King

Global Deputy CIO of Fundamental Equities

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Jeff Shen

Co-Chief Investment Officer and Co-Head of Systematic Active Equity

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Michael Gates

Head of Model Portfolio Solutions in the Americas, Lead Portfolio Manager for BLK Target Allocation Portfolios

I’m up at 3:45 every morning. I want to know where all the markets are. I work out for an hour then the day really gets going.

I’m Rick Rieder, Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income at BlackRock.

So my job is investing money for clients trying to generate returns using fixed income assets within portfolios. From being in this business for 35 years, you learn you got to be thoughtful, you got to innovate, you got to be different, and then apply that to the experience you have and the research that you’re doing.

Education for me is literally the foundation of everything. I’m chairman of the board of North Star Academy. It’s over 14 charter schools, serving 6,000 kids in the city of Newark. We started an internship program to bring high school kids in to help them with not just understanding markets, the economy, finance, but also understanding how you interface in business. We’re helping to change the future of thousands of underserved kids.

It gives you a real boost to see the difference you can make.

There’s a lot to do in a day, but when you start to see what you can get done, I think it’s safe to say that I won’t look back and wish I had slept more.

I’m up at 3:45 every morning. I want to know where all the markets are. I work out for an hour then the day really gets going.

I’m Rick Rieder, Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income at BlackRock.

So my job is investing money for clients trying to generate returns using fixed income assets within portfolios. From being in this business for 35 years, you learn you got to be thoughtful, you got to innovate, you got to be different, and then apply that to the experience you have and the research that you’re doing.

Education for me is literally the foundation of everything. I’m chairman of the board of North Star Academy. It’s over 14 charter schools, serving 6,000 kids in the city of Newark. We started an internship program to bring high school kids in to help them with not just understanding markets, the economy, finance, but also understanding how you interface in business. We’re helping to change the future of thousands of underserved kids.

It gives you a real boost to see the difference you can make.

There’s a lot to do in a day, but when you start to see what you can get done, I think it’s safe to say that I won’t look back and wish I had slept more.

EXPERTISE

We actively seek to extract the news from the noise

The portfolio managers, quantitative researchers, risk analysts, traders, data scientists, and developers who make up our global active investing teams are well versed in making informed and accurate investing decisions.

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    Over 2800 active investment professionals across all asset classes

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    715 global research analysts sharing insights with the firm

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    Over 700+ investors attend a daily global meeting each week on average to debate investment views

    Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (5)

    "Active management is about studying history, studying the current data, but then adding judgment to that. Because data and history don't see around corners. Human judgment does. That is how we can add value as active investors."

    Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (6)

    BALANCING RISK AND REWARD

    We identify and manage risk for our clients in all market environments

    On-screen question: Why is it important to stay invested for the long run despite short term market fluctuation?

    If you’re running a business with a long history of profitability, you don’t shut down when you see clouds roll in. You make calculated adjustments while staying focused on long term value creation.

    It’s the same thing with building wealth. When you look at financial history, the long-term effects of staying invested are clear.

    BlackRock’s active management strategies use the best available analysis and historical insights to drive toward targets down the road.

    As volatile market moves or economic events change the shape of the road, we use our active management tools to guide the portfolios back toward their targets.

    That’s what we do for our clients every day. We’re staying confidently focused and invested for the long haul.

    Focused on the long term

    We work only for our clients. Our promise is to give them insight into what to do with their money, providing products and services that can help them build a better financial future.

    On-screen question: Are drawdowns a good time to buy?

    Disclosure: There is no guarantee that positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    Drawdowns can actually be a great time to buy, provided you have strong conviction in a company’s fundamentals. When it comes to the stock market, a rising tide can lift all boats.

    Disclosure: For illustrative purposes: no guarantee positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    But when the tide drops, those boats can go with it. As equity investors, we’re opportunistic. We see through the storm.

    Disclosure: For illustrative purposes: no guarantee positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    We know that stock prices can change much more rapidly than company fundamentals, creating temporary mispricings. We seek to capitalize on that.

    Text: Potential Upside; on-screen disclosure: For illustrative purposes: no guarantee positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    So really the question is: Which companies have the strongest fundamentals?

    On-screen disclosure: For illustrative purposes: no guarantee positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    Our Fundamental Equities teams have unparalleled insight and the agility to identify those companies that can rise to the top when the tides turn.

    Disclosure: There is no guarantee that positive results will occur and may incur a loss.

    Finding opportunities for growth

    Turbulent markets and uneven liquidity present our active investors the potential opportunities to capitalize on dispersion and inefficiencies within and across sectors.

    On-screen question: How do you maintain an alpha edge in markets?

    Simply put, deep human expertise and cutting-edge technology.

    We live in an increasingly digital world. When you look at all the data available, 90% of it has been generated over the last two years. Source: Dihuni, data as of April 10 2020

    This is everything from wi-fi beacons to credit card purchases, to online activities.

    While a single data point might not be interesting, in aggregate, it starts to tell a story.

    We utilize diverse market expertise and data-driven investment process to separate potentially valuable signals from the noise. This leads to potentially innovative insights that seeks to forecast trends and help make active moves ahead of the pack.

    Evaluating individual portfolios

    We recognize that no two portfolios are the same. As a fiduciary and champion of long-termism, we are always ready to respond to the needs of our clients in 100 countries.1

    COMPREHENSIVE PLATFORM

    We have the necessary breadth and reach to deliver hard-to-find alpha

    On-screen question: How do you navigate fixed income investment opportunities in a volatile environment?

    When you’re navigating any challenging environment the best approach is to remain active and flexible.

    In a highly-volatile setting, we don’t rely on outsized positions or big bets on difficult-to-predict macro trends. We stay agile and make smaller, opportunistic moves.

    By staying nimble, unconstrained, and well-diversified we’re able to keep our options open to seize attractive opportunities wherever they become available.

    Disclosure: Diversification does not assure a profit and may not protect against loss.

    The destination remains the same, but especially in conditions like this, the wisest path is to make a little bit of money a lot of times.

    Disclosure: No guarantee of profits; and losses may occur.

    Access to world-class dedicated capital markets sourcing and trading platforms, plus dealer balance sheets and financing where needed, work together to increase the capacity of our investment teams.

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    “As data and technology evolves, systematic returns can more easily be accessed in cost efficient manners through indexing. This is transforming the alpha space which ultimately will benefit all investors.”

    Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (9)

    DATA & TECHNOLOGY

    We innovate and evolve through advanced data analytics and technology

    Building upon existing deep market knowledge and diverse backgrounds, our active investors are able to utilize an expansive investment toolkit to build resilient and robust portfolios across everything we do and every strategy we manage for every client.

    We pride ourselves on our use of technology and ability to turn data into research insights – designing distinctive ways to drive alpha.

    Our Technology and Data Analytics teams are really at the center of everything we do and are embedded into the day-to-day lives of our investors across all styles of active management, facilitating their abilities to turn data into investment signals.

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      alternative data sets integrated into our research platform

      These raw inputs are useful for making decisions include prices, ratings, shipping info, transcripts, geolocation, texts.

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      developers and product managers dedicated to Aladdin

      Data gets transformed into information, such as risk analytics, liquidity scores, default probabilities, factor exposures.

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      risk factors monitored by Aladdin

      Research and analytics helps investors identify the best investing opportunities and support portfolio construction.

      Get the latest from BlackRock investment experts

      Read our Macro take blog for an easy-to-read take on what’s going on in the economy, why it matters, and how policymakers might respond.

      Read economic insightsRead economic insights

      Explore active investing

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      • Systematic investingSystematic investing

      • Multi-asset investingMulti-asset investing

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      Active Investing - Finding the Best Investment Opportunities | BlackRock (2024)

      FAQs

      Why is active investing better? ›

      “Active” Advantages

      Among the benefits they see: Flexibility – because active managers, unlike passive ones, are not required to hold specific stocks or bonds. Hedging – the ability to use short sales, put options, and other strategies to insure against losses.

      What is an active investment strategy? ›

      Active investing means investing in funds whose portfolio managers select investments based on an independent assessment of their worth—essentially, trying to choose the most attractive investments. Generally speaking, the goal of active managers is to “beat the market,” or outperform certain standard benchmarks.

      Is BlackRock a reputable company? ›

      BlackRock has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5, based on over 6,232 reviews left anonymously by employees. 73% of employees would recommend working at BlackRock to a friend and 72% have a positive outlook for the business. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

      Where does BlackRock get its money? ›

      In conclusion, BlackRock's business and revenue model primarily relies on asset management and advisory services. The company generates revenue by managing clients' investment portfolios, providing personalized advice, and leveraging technology.

      What are the 3 disadvantages of active investment? ›

      Though active investing may have potential advantages over passive investing, it also comes with potential limitations to consider:
      • Requires high engagement. ...
      • Demands higher risk tolerance. ...
      • Tends not to beat benchmarks over time.

      Do active investors beat the market? ›

      The average investor may not have a very good chance of beating the market. Regular investors may be able to achieve better risk-adjusted returns by focusing on losing less. Consider using low-cost platforms, creating a portfolio with a purpose, and beware of headline risk.

      Is BlackRock a Chinese company? ›

      BlackRock, Inc. is an American multinational investment company. Founded in 1988, initially as an enterprise risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with US$10 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023.

      Can normal people invest in BlackRock? ›

      Buying shares in the BlackRock Income and Growth Investment Trust is easy. You can do so via a stockbroker or an online platform. You can also invest in investment trusts through your ISA with another provider or self-invested personal pension (SIPP).

      Who is BlackRock owned by? ›

      BlackRock is an independently managed public company with no single majority stockholder. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has a minority ownership stake in BlackRock with the remainder owned by institutional and individual investors, as well as BlackRock employees.

      Is my money safe with BlackRock? ›

      The BlackRock Lifepath fund available via the Moneybox Pension, is a protected contract of insurance for the purposes of the FSCS.

      Which is better, Vanguard or BlackRock? ›

      If you're looking for an option that lets you play a hands-on role in your investing decisions, Vanguard might be the better option. If you're looking for passive options, either firm could be the answer.

      What is the minimum investment for BlackRock? ›

      Minimum initial investment*: Investor A & C Shares, $1,000 per fund or $50 per fund with an Automatic Investment Plan. Investor A & C Shares:Investor A Shares are generally subject to a front-end sales charge, while Investor C Shares are generally subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.

      What are the advantages of active trading? ›

      Benefits of Active Trading

      One of the main advantages is the potential for higher returns compared to traditional long-term investing. By actively monitoring the markets and taking advantage of short-term price movements, active traders can capitalize on opportunities to generate profits.

      Why active funds are better than passive funds? ›

      While active funds strive to outperform the market through skilled management and decision-making, passive funds offer a simpler, more consistent approach by tracking market indices. Ultimately, the choice between active and passive funds depends on individual preferences and objectives.

      What are the advantages of an active portfolio? ›

      Active portfolio managers can diversify your portfolio across different asset classes, sectors, regions, styles, and strategies that have low or negative correlation with each other. This can reduce your exposure to market volatility, systemic risk, and unsystematic risk.

      What are the advantages of active management? ›

      Advantages of Active Management

      Active fund managers have more flexibility. There is more freedom in the selection process than in an index fund, which must match as closely as possible the selection and weighting of the investments in the index. Actively managed funds allow for benefits in tax management.

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