University of Missouri's endowment posts 29.6% return for fiscal year

University of Missouri System's $2.2 billion endowment pool returned a net 29.6% for the fiscal year ended June 30, confirmed Thomas F. Richards, treasurer and chief investment officer.

The Columbia-based university endowment's return exceeded its policy benchmark return of 25.4% for the same period.

For the three, five and 10 years ended June 30, the endowment pool returned an annualized net 11.5%, 11.5% and 8.6%, respectively, above their respective benchmarks of 11.2%, 10.6% and 8.4%.

The endowment pool returned a net 1.2% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

By asset class, the best performer for the most recent fiscal year was private equity, which returned a net 62.5% for the year ended June 30 (above its benchmark return of 57.6%), followed by commodities at a net 54.9% (above its 45.6% benchmark) and public equities at 41.8% (39.3%).

The risk balance asset class was next with a net return of 21.6% for the fiscal year ended June 30 (equal to its 21.6% benchmark); followed by private debt at 11.5% (below its 12.8% benchmark); real estate, a net 10.5% (1.5%); inflation-linked bonds, 6.7% (6.6%); and U.S. Treasuries, -1.2% (-1.5%).

As of June 30, the endowment pool's actual allocation was 37.2% public equities, 14.5% risk balance, 11.2% private equity, 9.9% inflation-linked bonds, 8% U.S. Treasuries, 7.2% commodities, 6.8% real estate, 4.9% private debt and 0.3% cash/other.