Institutional investor returns stall at 0.04% in third quarter, Northern Trust reports
NTRS•Northern Trust's institutional investment universe posted a 0.04% median return in the third quarter of 2026. Corporate ERISA plans returned -3.7%, while public funds returned -0.1%, foundations and endowments gained 0.7%, U.S. fixed-income portfolios lost 3.5%, and U.S. equity portfolios gained 1%.
1. Third-quarter returns
Northern Trust's institutional investment universe posted a 0.04% median return in the third quarter of 2026 as higher rates weighed on portfolios. Corporate ERISA plans returned -3.7% at the median, compared with -0.1% for public funds; foundations and endowments gained 0.7%.
2. Asset class results
U.S. fixed-income portfolios returned -3.5% at the median, matching the U.S. aggregate bond index. U.S. equity portfolios gained 1% at the median, trailing the S&P 500's 2.3% return.
