003 · Benchmarks

What they aim for.

70 plans state a target, a range or a benchmark by asset class — 324 distinct benchmarks across 9 asset classes. Figures are as the documents state them: we bucket the labels, we don't correct the arithmetic.

Public Equity

68 plans; 63 state a target; median target 49% (range 20–100%); typical allowed range 10 points wide; 6 plans left out of the statistics — the document gives sleeve weights or fractions, not percentage shares.

median · 49.00 0 25 50 75 100
BenchmarkPlans
Russell 300017
ACWI ex US12
S&P 5009
MSCI ACWI IMI8
MSCI EAFE8
MSCI Emerging Markets8
Russell 25008
67% Russell 3000 and 33% MSCI ACWI ex USA Net Return (USD)4
MSCI ACWI ex USA Net Return (USD)4
MSCI EM4
Russell 10004
MSCI ACWI IMI with USA Gross3

and 50 more, each used by a plan or two.