基金经理，路越走越窄了

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the contrasting performance and investor preferences between actively managed equity funds and ETFs in the context of a strong stock market in 2025, highlighting the challenges faced by active fund managers despite some impressive returns [4][5][6]. Group 1: Performance of Active Equity Funds - In 2025, the average annual return of actively managed equity funds reached 31.14%, a significant improvement compared to the previous four years [5]. - Over 70 funds achieved annual returns exceeding 100%, with the top-performing fund, managed by Ren Jie, yielding 233.69%, surpassing the previous record set by Wang Yawei in 2007 [5][6]. - Despite these gains, investor confidence in active equity funds remains low, as evidenced by a 5.7% quarter-over-quarter decline in overall fund shares in Q3 2025 [5][6]. Group 2: ETF Growth and Investor Preferences - ETFs saw a substantial growth of over 2 trillion yuan in 2025, reaching a total size of 6 trillion yuan, with stock ETFs alone accounting for 3.8 trillion yuan [6]. - The preference for ETFs over actively managed funds is evident, as even high-performing active funds did not attract significant inflows, with some funds having less than 10 million yuan in size despite impressive returns [6][7]. - The article emphasizes that the growth in active equity fund sizes is primarily due to net asset value increases rather than new subscriptions from investors [5][6]. Group 3: Investment Strategies and Market Dynamics - Active fund managers are increasingly focusing on niche sectors, particularly in technology and AI, to differentiate themselves from ETFs [9][14]. - The concentration of top-performing funds in specific sectors, such as communication and AI, has led to a high degree of overlap in holdings, making it difficult for investors to distinguish between different funds [16][19]. - The article notes that while active managers have the potential for higher returns through deep research and sector focus, many struggle to maintain consistent performance over time [32][33]. Group 4: Challenges Faced by Active Fund Managers - Many active fund managers face challenges in outperforming ETFs, particularly in sectors where ETFs have strong performance, such as communication [17][18]. - The article highlights that the strategies employed by many active managers are becoming increasingly homogenized, leading to a lack of differentiation in performance [16][19]. - The potential for active managers to capture excess returns is limited by their inability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions, particularly when sectors experience downturns [25][26].