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At close · Thu, Jul 16, 2026
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HomeUS MarketsSectorsWar in Middle East highlights why active stock picking…

War in Middle East highlights why active stock picking often underperforms

The piece argues active stock pickers typically trail broad market returns, framing the current geopolitical shock as a stress test for stock selection.

MarketWatch argues that active stock picking has a hard time beating broad market performance, saying “simple math” is against most stock pickers.

The outlet points to the ongoing war in the Middle East as an example of an environment that makes outperformance even more difficult for discretionary stock selection strategies.

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