Cliff Asness: Market Inefficiencies Are Becoming More Pronounced

In this interview with Bloomberg, Cliff Asness from AQR discusses how market inefficiencies are becoming more pronounced and persistent over time.

Here are the key points:

  • Wide spreads between cheap and expensive stocks: The gap between undervalued and overvalued stocks has become more extreme and is lasting longer than in the past. Although spreads have narrowed since the peak of the Covid era, Cliff suggests that markets remain “out of whack” and are still around the 80th percentile compared to historical spreads.
  • The primary factors contributing to market inefficiency are: The rise of passive investing, extended periods of ultra-low interest rates and influence of technology and social media.
  • On technology’s impact, Cliff argues that while technology has increased the speed of market pricing, Asness argues it hasn’t necessarily improved accuracy and may even contribute to less accurate pricing.
  • He speculates that the rise of passive investing, prolonged low interest rates driving investor behaviour, and the influence of technology are potential reasons behind the increasing market inefficiencies.

[…] The bigger question I’m trying to answer is I see this as a sign of the market getting less efficient about pricing.

In principle, we all think things should get more efficient over time. Technology marches on, data is more available. Things that were available at a lag are available instantly now, but I think most of those things go to speed, not to accurate pricing.

Share the news

Disclaimer of liability

The above has been prepared by Børsgade ApS for information purposes and cannot be regarded as a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Nor can the information etc. be regarded as recommendations or advice of a legal, accounting or tax nature. Børsgade cannot be held liable for losses caused by customers’/users’ actions – or lack thereof – based on the information in the above. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in the above is complete and accurate, but cannot guarantee this and accept no liability for errors or omissions.

Readers are advised that investing may involve a risk of loss that cannot be determined in advance, and that past performance and price development cannot be used as a reliable indicator of future performance and price development. For further information please contact info@borsgade.dk

You might also find this interesting:

Michael Mauboussin: Drawdowns Are The Unavoidable Cost of Long-Term Investing

Michael Mauboussin from Morgan Stanley Investment Management have published a comprehensive analysis examining stock market drawdowns and recovery patterns from 1985 to 2024. The research reveals that even the most successful investments experience severe price declines, with the median stock suffering an 85% drawdown that takes 2.5 years from peak to trough.

The study analyzed over 6,500 companies and found that more than half never recover to their previous highs. Michael’s work demonstrates that large drawdowns are an inevitable feature of equity investing, affecting individual stocks, mutual funds, and even portfolios with perfect foresight.

Thomas Gayner: My Current Take on Novo Nordisk

In his interview, Tom Gayner, CEO of Markel Group, reflects on investment principles shaped by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, and offers a detailed assessment of Novo Nordisk. Gayner praises Novo Nordisk for its business quality, global leadership in diabetes treatment, and strong growth trajectory. He credits the company’s disciplined management and innovation in pharmaceuticals as exemplary, aligning with his own standards of long-term value creation.

Michael Mauboussin: Put Expected Value In Your Valuation Toolkit

In this article, Michael Mauboussin explores how investors can generate excess returns by focusing on the gap between price and value, emphasizing the practicalities and psychology of expected value in investment decisions. He explains that while price is observable, value is inherently probabilistic, requiring careful estimation of possible payoffs and their probabilities.

The paper covers the challenges of modeling uncertainty, the importance of considering both probabilities and payoffs, the psychological hurdles investors face (like loss aversion), and best practices for applying these concepts across asset classes.

Bill Ackman: Success is Not A Straight Line Up

In the 2025 UBS Berkshire Hathaway Fireside Chat, Bill Ackman and Ryan Israel from Pershing Square Capital discuss investment philosophy, market volatility, the impact of tariffs and geopolitics, and lessons from Warren Buffett.

The conversation covers how to identify durable, high-quality businesses, the importance of long-term thinking, and the evolving landscape for activist investing. Ackman shares personal reflections on resilience, mentorship, and the role of free speech, while both speakers provide practical advice for young investors and fund managers.