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The effect of investor service costs on mutual fund performance

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  • George J. Jiang
  • Tong Yao
  • Gulnara R. Zaynutdinova

Abstract

We examine the effect of investor service costs on mutual fund performance. Benchmarking passive funds against ETFs managed by the same fund company with the same investment objectives, we show that passive funds on average underperform ETFs by 42 bps in annualized net returns, of which about 90% can be attributed to investor service costs. Further benchmarking active funds against passive funds, we show that active funds on average outperform passive funds by 31 bps in annualized gross returns. However, the higher expense ratios charged by active funds lead to about 28 bps of underperformance in annualized net fund returns.

Suggested Citation

  • George J. Jiang & Tong Yao & Gulnara R. Zaynutdinova, 2023. "The effect of investor service costs on mutual fund performance," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 58(1), pages 91-115, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finrev:v:58:y:2023:i:1:p:91-115
    DOI: 10.1111/fire.12316
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    References listed on IDEAS

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