📈 Regulation A and Crowdfunding: Small Fish, Big Pond
If you thought small-time investments were just a drop in the ocean, think again. The SEC's latest reports reveal that from 2015 to 2024, Regulation A and Crowdfunding raised a jaw-dropping $10 billion. Regulation A alone saw over 1,400 offerings shooting for $28 billion and reeling in $9.4 billion. Talk about small fish in a big pond!
Crowdfunding wasn't left behind either. From 2016 to 2024, more than 8,400 offerings by over 7,100 issuers sought a total of $8.4 billion. And guess what? They netted $1.3 billion. That's a lot of startups getting their wings! With typical issuers holding just $80,000 in total assets, it's clear these platforms are lifelines for small and early-stage companies.
"Understanding how capital is being raised informs not only the Commission but the public about essential parts of our markets," said Robert Fisher, Acting Chief Economist at the SEC.
🧐 Hedge Funds: Concentration vs. Performance
Let's pivot to the big leagues—hedge funds. The SEC's third report dives into the nitty-gritty of beneficial ownership concentration in hedge funds from 2013 to 2023. Concentrated funds, which have fewer but larger investors, grew faster than their diversified counterparts. They also held more liquid assets and offered greater investor liquidity.
But here's the kicker: while concentrated funds showed a gross return advantage of 1.2%, their net return was only 0.1% higher. So, the edge was basically eaten up by higher costs. Still, the growth in concentrated funds indicates a trend worth watching.
"Today's reports provide key information on the capital markets," Fisher added. "It helps us understand the interplay between ownership concentration and fund outcomes."
