Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant reforms introduced in the public fund industry through the "Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Public Funds," emphasizing the importance of performance benchmarks and the need for a more rational setting of these benchmarks to improve fund performance [2][6][12]. Summary by Sections Performance Benchmarks - The document highlights the critical role of performance benchmarks for public funds, which serve as a standard for fund managers to achieve and exceed [6][7]. - Most funds currently use indices like CSI 300, CSI 800, and CSI 500 as benchmarks, with nearly half of active funds benchmarked against the CSI 300 [7]. Fund Performance Analysis - Recent data indicates that only 30% of funds have outperformed their benchmarks over the past three years, with nearly 50% of products underperforming by more than 10% [12]. - The average excess return relative to benchmarks has been negative in recent years, with a notable decline in the proportion of funds outperforming benchmarks from 2020 to 2024 [13][14]. Active Fund Management Challenges - Continuous outperformance is challenging, especially during market downturns, where only about 20% of active funds managed to outperform their benchmarks from 2022 to 2024 [14]. - A study identified only 46 funds (2.2% of the sample) that consistently outperformed their benchmarks over five years, with 25 of these having a combined scale of over 1 billion [17]. Fund Manager Performance - The article lists funds that have consistently outperformed their benchmarks over five years, noting that many of these funds are managed by well-regarded fund managers [21][22]. - The performance of fund managers is evaluated not only on returns but also on their ability to control drawdowns, with some funds experiencing significant drawdowns despite strong returns [23][24]. Notable Fund Managers - The article mentions specific fund managers who have successfully managed funds that consistently outperform benchmarks, highlighting their investment philosophies and strategies [25][36]. - It also discusses the impact of fund manager changes on fund performance, particularly in the context of recent departures of notable managers [29][33]. Conclusion on Fund Evaluation - The article concludes that while outperforming benchmarks is a key metric for evaluating fund performance, it should not be the sole criterion, as other factors such as risk management and drawdown control are equally important [44].