Morningstar Investment Research

Morningstar’s independent research is only biased in favor of investors. Dig into expert analysis from 100+ global researchers on securities, funds, markets, and portfolios. With transparent insights, investors can make more confident investment decisions.

Updated Sep 9, 2024 Link Copied

Trending Investment Research

Our latest reports unpack trends and challenges.

US Economic Outlook: Q3 2024

Despite the unemployment rate uptick, the risk of recession hasn’t seriously increased.

Singapore REITs Market Landscape

With interest rate changes on the horizon, current Singapore REIT valuations look attractive.

Moats and Motors: Navigating the US Auto Dealer Industry

How we evaluate insights into the landscape of the auto dealer industry

Understanding What Investors Value from Financial Advisors

Personalized investment advice can help set advisors apart.

Transforming Index Funds: More Than Meets the Eye

How target index changes affect index fund performance

Mind the Gap 2024: A Report on Investor Returns in the US

The 1.1% annual estimated return gap stems from mistimed purchases and sales.

Navigating the Client Lifecycle in Financial Planning

How can financial advisors better attract and engage clients?

Global Monthly Fund Flows

The latest research and commentary from the Morningstar Manager Research team.

Q2 2024 Apparel Industry Pulse

Explore Morningstar’s latest apparel industry insights to understand the supply chain, sales and profitability challenges, industry drivers, and more.

Utilities Sector Outlook: A Look at Regulation, Data Centers, and AI

The relationship between the utilities industry, data centers, and AI is quickly evolving—and so are its investing opportunities. Download our report now.

China Real Estate Market Pulse: Q3 2024

Morningstar’s Q3 2024 China Real Estate Market report covers policy impact, key developers, and liquidity opportunities and challenges. Download now.

Q3 2024 Markets Observer

Dive into financial market trends, stock market analysis, bond and fund performance, and more in our Q3 2024 Markets Observer report. Download now.

China Active/Passive Barometer: Year-End 2023

Discover the latest data analysis in active and passive investment performance and success rates in our China Active vs. Passive Barometer report. Download now.

Asia Equity Market Outlook: Q3 2024

How is the Asian stock market performing? Download our quarterly Asia Stock Market Outlook to get the latest stock market performance, analysis, and more.

Q3 2024 US Stock Market Outlook

How is the US stock market performing? Download our quarterly US Stock Market Outlook to learn the latest stock market trends, analysis, and opportunities.

Q3 2024 Europe Equity Market Outlook

How is the European stock market performing? Download our quarterly Europe Equity Market Outlook to learn the latest European stock performance and more.

Q2 2024 US Renewable Energy Pulse

Renewable energy continues to increase its share of power generation in the US. Download our report for the latest renewable energy trends and analysis.

Q2 2024 Travel Services Pulse

Get our latest Travel Services report for all the Q2 2024 travel industry analysis needed to find attractive investing opportunities. Download now.

US Gaming Pulse: Q2

Learn how increases in gambling and wagering are driving the latest US gaming market analysis, gaming stock valuations, and more. Get the full report now.

Global Mutual Fund Asset Distribution

Understanding the Top-Heavy Dynamics Among Global Mutual Fund Companies

2024 Online Commerce Observer

Despite near-term challenges, US e-commerce growth is expected to accelerate in the coming years.

2024 AI Technology Observer

Get ahead in investing in artificial intelligence with our AI Networking Observer, which analyzes key players, AI market trends, and more. Download now for more.

Q2 2024 Oil and Gas Industry Pulse

Oil prices look weak, gas prices spike, and energy stocks benefit from M&A announcements in the second quarter of 2024. Read the free report.

Q2 2024 US Economic Outlook

Explore our Q2 2024 US Economic Outlook report for analysis of Federal Reserve rate cut predictions, GDP growth, inflation trends, and more. Download now.

2024 US Financial Health Report

Explore economic analysis, interest rates, and their potential impact on the financial landscape in our 2024 US Financial Health Report.

Morningstar's Guide to US Active ETFs

Active ETFs offer a new growth opportunity for active fund managers.

Global Equity Fund Flows

Morningstar’s Global Fund Flows report breaks down flows by category, region, asset class and more for insight into investor behavior.

Climate Action 100+ Departures Put Proxy Voting in the Spotlight

Voting records indicate that concerns over potential collusion by signatories are overstated.

Active ETFs in Europe: Small, Shy, and on the Rise

The universe is growing, but offerings are less active than expected.

U.S. Drug Distribution Landscape

Read our latest U.S. drug distribution report now to understand how specialty and generic drugs are impacting the future of healthcare delivery and patient prescriptions.

H1 2024 U.S. Housing Outlook

Understand how the latest macroeconomic trends affect the housing market in our bi-annual U.S. Housing Outlook report.

Biopharma Landscape

Innovation is quickly evolving the biopharmaceuticals industry, making it critical for investors to understand the latest trends. Learn more now.

Target-Date Funds and Annuities

Can a new wave of target-date strategies be the easy button for retirement income?

2024 Target-Date Strategy Landscape

Target-date strategies increased net flows to $156 billion in 2023

2024 Diversification Landscape

How Did Diversified Portfolios Hold Up in 2023? Uncover the factors behind the resurgence of the 60/40 portfolio.

Financial Services Observer

How is commercial real estate affecting the Financial Services sector? Find key forecasts and opportunities in U.S. banks for your clients.

Mining Industry Landscape

Uncover key insights about the globally mined commodities industry and find client opportunities in these alternative investments.

U.S. Active/Passive Barometer

Explore the latest data analysis in active and passive investment performance in our semiannual U.S. Active vs. Passive Barometer report. Download now for more.

Small-Cap Equities and Funds

Have you considered small-cap equities or funds for your clients’ portfolios? Our report on small-caps provides an in-depth analysis on the industry. Download now.

Motors and Markets 2024

Our latest report on the U.S. auto industry analyzes current trends and forecasts. Uncover new investment opportunities for your clients today.

U.S. E&Ps Landscape

What can investors expect in the oil and gas industry? Discover the latest insights in our Oil and Gas E&P Landscape report.

2023 Model Portfolio Landscape

Our latest edition of the Model Portfolio Landscape shares the latest analysis of the broader model portfolio industry and how it can benefit your clients.

Software Landscape Report

In our latest landscape report, discover the latest analyses on the software industry to create growth opportunities for your clients.

Mutual Fund Manager Stock Hit Rates

Can mutual fund managers pick perfectly every time? Not quite, but still pretty close! Even as managers give recommendations, investors should still do their research before investing. Read detailed research about fund manager stock hit success rates and strategies.

2024 Utilities Outlook

Utilities performance has been dicey in recent years, but it’s expected to bounce back. Our 2024 Utilities Outlook report examines four key themes for this year.

What Motivates Clients to Stay With Their Financial Advisors?

Discover various strategies advisors can use to foster sustainable client relationships in this report.

Dividend Funds Landscape Report

Different characteristics of dividend funds impact investors’ total return experience

Q4 2023 Digital & Analog Semiconductors Pulse

How is the creation and evolution of new technologies like artificial intelligence impacting the semiconductor industry? Download your copy of our latest Digital and Analog Semiconductor report to find out.

2023 Retirement Withdrawal Strategies Report

The right withdrawal rate depends on portfolio asset allocation, the market, and time horizon. For The State of Retirement Income report, we modeled the success rate of different retirement withdrawal strategies.

Luxury Goods Landscape Report

Uncover the latest updates in the luxury goods industry, including key growth drivers, future forecasts, market dominance, and more in this report.

Cybersecurity Landscape Report

Understand how growth trends, key factors, and the shift toward cloud-native solutions are shaping the future of the cybersecurity industry in this report.

A Global Guide to Strategic-Beta Exchange-Traded Products

How does the growth and performance of the strategic-beta space compare to the broader exchange-traded product market?

Compare Robo-Advisor Performance & Assess the Best Options

Robo-advisors offer low account minimums, modest costs, and ease of use, making them more appealing to young investors. How do today’s robo-advisors stack up?

A Simple Framework for Structured Products

With a partnership with Luma Financial Technologies, Morningstar aims to help investors contextualize structured products' continued momentum and classify these assets relative to the rest of their portfolios.

Fund Managers Switching Firms - Should Investors Tag Along?

In this report we assess if fund managers who left their firm for a competitor were able to replicate their investment success.

Can Asset Managers Take Direct Indexing to the Masses?

In this inaugural report, we examine direct-indexing opportunities for investors. Dig into best practices for evaluating direct index providers.

Why Money is Important to Investors

We quantified the consequences of two common questions: “Why is money important to you?” and “What is important to you about money?”. We examined how people answer these questions and the states of mind these questions evoke.

Large Growth Stocks: Hurdles and Risks for Fund Managers

This report explores the large-growth fund landscape. We examine why active fund managers have failed to beat their benchmark’s huge gains over the long run.

Intended and Unintended Crypto Exposures

In this report we provide a framework for identifying tangential exposure to digital assets in managed investments and common stocks.

Beware of Overconfidence in “Outlook Season”

In this report we explore how to combat overconfidence bias, despite it being a natural tendency.

2022 Health Savings Account Landscape

In our annual report, we evaluate the 10 largest HSA providers to help investors understand this often opaque and evolving space.

Morningstar's Cryptocurrency Landscape

Cryptocurrencies have become increasingly popular over the past seven years and at $1.7 trillion in total market capitalization, this volatile asset class can no longer hide in the shadows. In our inaugural Cryptocurrency Landscape, we shed light on the risks associated with digital currencies and share what we’ve learned about the future of the space.

Morningstar’s Global Automotive Observer:

Despite the recent chip shortage, we expect global light-vehicle demand to grow between 1% and 5% as the automotive industry begins to recover. In our latest Automotive Observer, we offer a detailed look at the global industry’s 2022 forecast.

2022 U.S. Interest Rate & Inflation Forecast

This report includes a summary of Morningstar's newest forecast update covering short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, and monetary policy in the U.S.

Morningstar's Guide to Tax Managed Investing

As investors and advisors aim to improve take-home returns and the viability of their financial plans, our research asserts that tax management is a valuable lever. In this report we outline the benefits of intentional tax management and provide frameworks and guidelines to be used when constructing portfolios and selecting investments.

Thematic Fund Handbook

In our Thematic Fund Handbook, we address common questions investors have regarding thematic investments and examine how to assess the performance of a theme.

Sustainable Investing

More investors want to understand how their investments shape the world. This collection evaluates the growth, performance, and impact of sustainable investing.

ESMA's Guidelines on ESG Fund Names

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released its final guidelines on the naming of funds that use ESG or sustainability-related terms.

Global Sustainable Fund Flows Report

Explore activity in the global sustainable funds universe within the past quarter.

SFDR Article 8 and Article 9 Funds

Take a closer look at Article 8 and Article 9 funds through the lens of the European ESG Template.

Guide to Transitioning to Sustainable Equity Portfolios

What options do Investors have for switching to ESG-minded portfolios while avoiding major risks?

Investing in Times of Climate Change

See what's inside climate-aware funds and how they fit into your portfolio.

Where does ESG fit into investor conversations?

Uncover Effective Strategies for Discussing ESG Investing with Your Clients

US Annual Sustainable Funds Landscape

Analyze the growth, performance, and changing nature of the US Sustainable Funds Landscape.

ESG Proxy-Voting Insights: BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street

Examine how the Big Three voted on 100 key environmental and social resolutions from 2021 to March 2023.

US Sustainable Fund Flows

Read the full report for a complete analysis of U.S. sustainable fund flows for the latest quarter.

ESG Landscape on Commercial Air Travel

Read more on sustainability in air travel in the latest ESG Landscape report.

Proxy-Voting Insights: Voting on Politics

Take a look at the top 10 U.S. asset managers and their ESG proxy-voting on lobbying and political activity, with a focus on climate change.

Morningstar Sustainability Atlas

Explore the sustainability profiles of Morningstar's 48 country-specific equity indexes.

ESG Landscape on Biopharma

Read about the ESG risks faced by the biopharmaceutical industry.

ESG Commitment Level Landscape

Find out how the world's largest asset managers perform in sustainable investing.

2022 Carbon Credits Landscape

Explore the potential of carbon credits for investors looking to deploy capital in securities based on impact.

ESG Landscape on Oil and Gas

Learn more about the ESG risks faced by the Oil and Gas Industries.

Proxy-Voting Insights: 2022 in Review

Get the latest insights on proxy-voting for ESG key resolutions over the past 3 years.

Water, Water? Everywhere. How are Asset Managers Responding?

Stay informed about water risk and climate change at COP27 with the latest insights from Morningstar.

ESG Landscape on Consumer Packaged Goods

Read more about the ESG risks faced by the CPG industry.

Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative

Discover the range of net-zero commitments and compare the approaches of top asset managers.

COP15: A Turning Point for Investor Approaches to Biodiversity

Review how investors are responding to the biodiversity crisis in light of the new framework from COP15.

ESG Landscape on Telecommunication Services

Learn more about the ESG risks faced by the telecommunication services industry.

The Hidden ESG Risks of Feel-Good Companies

Read how ESG risk and impact help investors looking to optimize their portfolios.

How to Talk to Investors About Sustainable Investing

Learn how to communicate about sustainable investing to increase investors' willingness to invest.

ESG Landscape on Autos

Discover the ESG risks faced by the Auto OEMs Industry.

Investment Strategies

Objective research for individuals, intermediaries, and institutional investors. Our researchers analyze under-the-radar strategies, investment methodologies, and more.

Morningstar Prospects

Download our Morningstar Prospects fund list to learn about up-and-coming and under-the-radar investment strategies. Get new and emerging fund ratings now.

Emerging-Equities Market Pulse

Explore the latest emerging market investment opportunities and risks in our Emerging Market Equities report and take advantage of global equities now.

Liquid Alternatives Observer

How are alternative investments performing? Read our latest edition of the quarterly Liquid Alternatives Observer to find the latest trends, strategies, and more.

Momentum Inflection Factor

In the complex world of investing, it's essential to navigate effectively and avoid potential pitfalls. Introducing our latest report, a deep dive into the power of Momentum Inflection Factor, a new approach to momentum investing that could redefine your strategies.

Morningstar’s Primer on Defined Outcome ETFs

In this primer, we break down how defined outcome funds work and how investors can use them. With leading research, wealth managers can help their clients make more informed decisions about a burgeoning product.

Global Thematic Funds Landscape

Our research shows that thematic funds—ranging from artificial intelligence to cannabis—have surged in recent years, with $806 billion in assets under management as of the end of 2021. In this report, we classify global thematic funds, analyze emerging trends, and offer clarity and guidance to investors.

A Global Guide to Strategic-Beta Exchange-Traded Products

How does the growth and performance of the strategic-beta space compare to the broader exchange-traded product market? In this annual report, we use our refined taxonomy and attributes to analyze these products and provide comprehensive insights into how the strategic-beta ETP environment has evolved over the past year.

The Reasons Behind Fund Closures

Fund closures hurt investors. When managers liquidate a fund, investors may be left with unexpected costs and tax bills. Merged funds could push investors into strategies that they didn’t originally choose. And fund closures are on the rise—2020 saw the highest number of shutdowns in the last 16 years. In this report, we examine common characteristics among funds that shutdown.

Financial Well-Being

Research for retirement and asset management professionals. This collection explores funding for long-term goals like retirement, college, and medical expenses.

Q3 2024 US Asset Manager Pulse

Explore Morningstar’s latest US asset management industry report to uncover market valuations for both traditional and alternative asset managers.

Morningstar's Annual 529 College-Savings Plan Landscape

In our annual 529 College-Savings Plan Landscape, we summarize which 529 plans are the most compelling, provide a breakdown of the tax benefits, and address common 529 plan concerns.

2024 Target-Date Funds and CITs Landscape

Target-date strategies increased net flows to $156 billion in 2023

2023 Retirement Withdrawal Strategies Report

With falling stock and bond prices and rising inflation, 2022 has been hard for investors near retirement. Yet our research suggests that safe withdrawal rates for retirement are higher than a year ago. The right withdrawal rate depends on portfolio asset allocation, the market, and time horizon. For The State of Retirement Income report, we modeled the success rate of different retirement withdrawal strategies.

US Asset Manager Landscape Report

Learn about the latest trends in the US asset management industry.

Mind the Gap: A report on investor returns in the U.S.

The persistent gap between the returns investors actually experience and reported total returns makes cash flow timing one of the most significant factors—along with investment costs and tax efficiency—that can influence an investor's end results. In this report, we dig into these nuances and explore how differences in the timing of cash flows, sequence of returns, and asset size can impact this gap. In addition, our research imparts a few lessons on how investors can avoid these gaps and capture more of their fund holdings’ total returns.

Morningstar's Robo-Advisor Landscape

In our inaugural Robo-advisor Landscape report, we shed light on best practices and evaluate 16 leading providers based on their investment advisory fees and other costs, how they map investors to an appropriate asset mix, the quality of portfolio construction and diversification, and financial planning-related features.

Morningstar's U.S. Fund Fee Study

Mutual fund investors have saved billions of dollars in fees over the past two decades, with fees hitting record lows again 2021. This is thanks to increased competition among asset managers, as well as the shift toward fee-based models of charging for financial advice. In our annual report we unpack more of the trends behind the numbers.

Global Investor Experience: Fees and Expenses Report

Our research shows that Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States had the strongest investing environments in regard to fees and expenses. This edition of the biennial Global Investor Experience report, which grades the experiences of mutual fund investors across 26 markets, breaks down the key factors contributing to global fee trends and provides a detailed look at the trends within each specific market.