Buysiders Institute

Every asset class, from public equities to digital assets, explained.

What each asset class is, how it makes money, what drives its risk, and where it fits in a portfolio.

Public marketsPrivate marketsReal assetsAlternatives

Public markets

8 min read

Public equities

Ownership stakes in listed companies, the liquid core of most portfolios.

8 min read

Fixed income

Lending at a contracted rate, the ballast and income of a portfolio.

8 min read

Hedge fund strategies

Absolute-return approaches meant to diversify a traditional portfolio.

Private markets

8 min read

Private equity

Control ownership of private companies, illiquid and levered, for higher return.

7 min read

Venture capital

The highest-risk, highest-dispersion corner of private markets.

7 min read

Private credit

Illiquid lending for higher, contracted yield than public bonds.

Real assets

7 min read

Real estate

Income-producing property, a tangible hybrid of yield and growth.

7 min read

Infrastructure

Essential long-life assets with stable, often inflation-linked cash flows.

Alternatives

7 min read

Commodities

Physical raw materials, an inflation hedge and portfolio diversifier.

7 min read

Digital assets

Crypto and tokenised assets, the youngest and most volatile alternative.

7 min read

Collectibles and tangible alternatives

Art, wine, cars and other passion assets, a small, illiquid diversifier.