What is the role of alternative data in mutual fund decision-making?

By PriyaSahu

       The role of alternative data in mutual fund decision-making is to help fund managers get better insights beyond traditional data like balance sheets and company reports. Alternative data includes things like social media trends, app usage, satellite images, online reviews, and more. This data helps mutual fund managers understand company performance, customer behavior, and market sentiment early. It allows them to make smarter investment choices and improve fund returns.



What is alternative data in mutual fund investing?

Alternative data refers to information that is not part of traditional financial statements or market data. It includes data from sources like social media, web traffic, credit card usage, satellite images, app downloads, and customer reviews.

This kind of data gives fund managers a clearer picture of what’s happening in the market and helps them make better investment choices.



How does alternative data help mutual fund managers?

Alternative data gives mutual fund managers early signs of a company’s performance or public interest. For example, if a company’s product is getting more online reviews or app downloads, it may show strong customer demand. This helps managers make better decisions before traditional reports are released.

It improves the timing and quality of investment decisions in mutual funds.



What types of alternative data do mutual funds use?

Mutual funds may use several types of alternative data to make smarter choices:

  • Social media trends and brand mentions
  • Website traffic and search engine trends
  • App download data and ratings
  • Customer reviews and feedback
  • Satellite images of retail stores or factories
  • Credit and debit card purchase trends
  • Weather data for agriculture and logistics stocks

All these data points help in understanding real-time business activity.



Why is alternative data important in today’s market?

Markets are moving fast, and by the time financial reports come out, many investors have already reacted. Alternative data helps mutual fund managers get real-time updates and act faster than others.

This speed and early knowledge help funds outperform and reduce risks.



Can retail investors benefit from alternative data in mutual funds?

Yes, even retail investors benefit when mutual fund managers use alternative data. Funds that use better data often make better decisions, which leads to better returns for investors.

Retail investors can also use simple alternative data like app trends and social media to understand market mood before investing.



What are the challenges of using alternative data in mutual funds?

The biggest challenge is making sure the data is correct and useful. Some alternative data may be noisy or give the wrong signal if not used properly. Also, it requires special tools and skills to collect and analyze this data correctly.

Fund managers must be careful and combine it with traditional analysis for best results.



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