The Short Rebate: A Headwind Becomes a Tailwind

February 22, 2023 | Chad Sheaffer, CFA, CAIA, Associate Director of Private Credit

Investor focus over the last year has centered on the Federal Reserve and rising interest rates. Since March 2022, the federal funds rate has increased 450 basis points, with further rate hikes expected in the next six months. While the Fed’s intent is to lower inflation and create price stability, higher rates have widespread implications for the economy and markets. While many have focused on the challenges for investors, hedge funds, particularly those that have the ability to short stocks and bonds, are also set to benefit from the increase in rates.

To establish a short position, a hedge fund must first borrow the security from other asset owners, providing cash collateral to the security lender to protect against potential default. During the borrowing period, the hedge fund that borrowed the stock must pay the lender any dividends or interest received, but is also entitled to receive back any interest that accrues on the required collateral. The return earned on the collateral, known as the short rebate or stock loan rebate, can meaningfully contribute to a hedge fund’s return, particularly for funds with meaningful short portfolio allocations.

For the past 15 years, the short rebate, estimated as the federal funds rate less a fee charged for borrowing a security (typically between 25 and 75 basis points), had been less than the dividend yield on the S&P 500, equating to a headwind to returns for short sellers. However, with short rebates now firmly in positive territory, hedge funds can benefit from higher expected returns in a segment of their portfolio that has been challenged since the Global Financial Crisis. While overall hedge fund returns will still be dependent on manager security selection and exposure management, the short rebate flipping from a headwind to a tailwind is just one of the reasons that the go-forward environment should be more favorable than it has been for relative hedge fund outperformance.

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The opinions expressed herein are those of Marquette Associates, Inc. (“Marquette”), and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to purchase or sell any product. Marquette reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs.