Absolute Return
Pursue Returns That Do Not Depend on Market Direction
$
.6b
Absolute Return Assets Under Management
as of 06/30/2026
Our Approach
Our absolute return strategies are designed to generate returns that are largely independent of traditional market direction. They are rooted in the belief that markets are broadly efficient, while also recognizing that inefficiencies may emerge due to various market pressures. The strategies offer different liquidity profiles and sources of return; however, across our absolute return capabilities, our focus is on understanding what drives each strategy’s return, selecting exposures that are complementary to the broader portfolio and implementing them with disciplined risk management.
From the Expert
Allocators are looking for returns that are consistent, resilient and uncorrelated to markets.”
Hear more about our absolute return strategies.
Director, Business Development
Liquid Hedge Fund Alternative
We construct liquid hedge fund alternative strategies by accessing both internally developed and dealer constructed alternative risk premia strategies, seeking diversifying return sources that may behave differently from traditional asset classes while maintaining liquidity and greater transparency.
Learn more about Liquid Hedge Fund Alternative
The allocation may complement an existing hedge fund portfolio or replace selected exposures that can be implemented without relying on traditional hedge fund structures, that may feature typical lock-ups and fee levels. We evaluate each strategy based on its economic rationale, return characteristics and relationship to existing portfolio exposures before determining how to allocate across economic, behavioral and structural premia.
Equity Market Neutral
Our Equity Market Neutral strategy is a pure expression of our alpha engine, designed to generate returns independently of equity market direction.
Learn more about Equity Market Neutral
Long and short positions are balanced to effectively neutralize market exposure, and the strategy can be deployed in a funded format or synthetically in an unfunded format, making it a potentially attractive standalone allocation offering uncorrelated returns, or as an alpha source within a portable alpha program. The flexibility in delivery structure allows the strategy to fit naturally across a range of portfolio contexts and implementation preferences.
Multi-Strategy
Our absolute return multi-strategy seeks to generate uncorrelated return by accessing structural imbalances and non-market-based risks in financial markets, including the provision of contingent liquidity to banks and broker-dealers.
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Supply and demand imbalances driven by regulatory frictions, institutional pressures and principal-agent conflicts can present opportunities, and our focus is on accessing those opportunities without taking on the risk of the underlying exposure. Returns are not driven by traditional market beta risks, making this an effective diversification tool alongside other absolute return allocations.
NISA’s Absolute Return Strategies
A NISA portfolio manager on managing fixed income risk across market environments.
Absolute Return Perspectives
Why NISA
Our Distinguished Approach
We partner with clients to build tailored solutions in pursuit of unique goals. Our style seeks consistent outcomes with high-quality, risk-adjusted returns.
Authentic Alpha
Actively managing specialized strategies across asset classes and markets, emphasizing diversification and proven processes that strive to deliver consistently high information ratios.
Beta Optimization
Capturing targeted market exposures efficiently, minimizing uncompensated risks and identifying opportunities created by structural gaps in market conditions.
Strategic Partnership
Cultivating enduring partnerships that reflect a deep understanding of client objectives with portfolios designed to deliver strategic outcomes.
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There is no assurance that the investment strategies will be successful. Investing involves many risks, including market-based risk, and it is possible to lose money.