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Fund Focus :Yale Endowment

Yale is routinely the best-performing endowment in the world
Posted on April 15, 2016 by David Ott Acropolis Investment Management LLC

One of my favorite reads of the year is from the Yale Investments Office, which manages their $25.6 billion endowment. You can find the report by clicking here.http://investments.yale.edu/images/documents/Yale_Endowment_15.pdf

Yale is routinely the best-performing endowment in the world and has earned a remarkable 13.9 percent return over the last 30 years – well above the 10.7 percent return for US stocks, 8.7 percent return for foreign stocks and 7.1 percent return for bonds.

I’ve read both books by David Swenson, their pioneering investment manager, and pay close attention to their annual report. I haven’t finished this one yet, but I was surprised by their large increase to foreign stocks in recent years.
http://acrinv.com/yale-bets-big-overseas/

Asset Allocations
as of June 30, 2015

Yale University / Educational Institution Mean
Absolute Return 20.5% / 24.1%
Domestic Equity 3.9 / 19.4
Fixed Income 4.9 / 9.3
Foreign Equity 14.7 / 22.1
Leveraged Buyouts 16.2 / 5.9
Natural Resources 6.7 / 7.3
Real Estate 14.0 / 3.7
Venture Capital 16.3 / 4.6
Cash 2.8 / 3.7

In 1985, 80% of the Endowment
was committed to U.S. stocks and bonds. Today, target allocations call for
12.5% in domestic marketable securities, while the diversifying assets of
foreign equity, natural resources, leveraged buyouts, venture capital,
absolute return, and real estate dominate the Endowment, representing
87.5% of the target portfolio.
The heavy allocation to nontraditional asset classes stems from
their return potential and diversifying power.
Venture capital investments provide compelling option-like returns as
the University’s premier venture managers gain exposure to innovative
start-up companies from an early stage. Yale’s venture capital allocation
of 14.0% exceeds the 4.6% actual allocation of the average educational
institution. The venture capital portfolio is expected to generate real
returns of 16.0% with risk of 37.8%.

Yale’s venture capital program, one of the first of its kind, is
regarded as among the best in the institutional investment community,
and the University is frequently cited as a role model by other investors.
Yale’s venture capital managers are strong, cohesive, and hungry teams
with proven ability to identify opportunities early and support talented
entrepreneurs as they build early-stage businesses. The University’s vast
experience in venture capital provides an unparalleled set of manager
relationships, significant market knowledge, and an extensive network.
Over the past twenty years, the venture capital program has earned an
outstanding 92.7% per annum.
http://investments.yale.edu/images/documents/Yale_Endowment_15.pdf

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