beat the benchmark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beat the benchmark" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to performance measurement, particularly in finance, business, or competitive analysis, where one aims to exceed a standard or reference point. Example: "Our goal this quarter is to beat the benchmark set by last year's sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Not one fund beat the benchmark every year.

The New York Times

And the level of fees was not a determining factor in which funds beat the benchmark over the long term.

The New York Times

After all, it is one thing for active equity managers to fail to beat the benchmark index, since that may imply only a lack of skill.

Columbia University

A univariate model which outperforms the benchmark during recent past period can also beat the benchmark in the near future out-of-sample.

Journal of Empirical Finance

If they are not going to earn these returns by tracking the index, they must assume they can beat the benchmark.

The Economist

The strategy which considers only timing problem can make reliable profits in a choppy market with no prominent trend while fails to beat the benchmark moving-average strategy in bull market.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"But that same strategy helped us beat the benchmarks by 15 to 20 percentage points during the boom," he said.

The New York Times

Its real assets — liquid commodities, timber and land and real estate — beat the benchmarks by nearly 3percentt.

The New York Times

Over the period the portfolio beat the benchmarks in 27 out of 31 years, on average exceeding the S&P 500 Index by 11.14%.

Forbes

Horn, who holds a master's of science degree in management from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has been able to beat the benchmarks by focusing on cash rather than earnings projections.

Forbes

In nearly all categories the funds beat the benchmarks they set for themselves.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance, use "beat the benchmark" to clearly communicate exceeding the expected or average return. For example, 'Our fund consistently beats the benchmark S&P 500 index'.

Common error

Avoid using "beat the benchmark" without clearly defining what the benchmark is. Always specify the benchmark (e.g., an index, a competitor's performance, an industry standard) to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beat the benchmark" functions as a verb phrase. It typically describes the action of outperforming or exceeding a set standard or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis indicating correct and usable English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beat the benchmark" is a commonly used expression, particularly in finance and business, to indicate outperforming a specific standard or index. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's crucial to define the benchmark clearly for context. Alternatives include "exceed the benchmark" and "outperform the benchmark", which may be preferred in highly formal settings. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, the phrase conveys a sense of achievement and exceeding expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceed the benchmark

Formally expresses surpassing a set standard or expectation.

outperform the benchmark

Specifically refers to exceeding the performance of a standard, often in finance.

surpass the benchmark

Indicates exceeding a specific standard or reference point.

better the benchmark

A more concise way of saying to improve upon the current standard.

top the benchmark

Suggests achieving a higher position or rank compared to the benchmark.

improve upon the benchmark

Focuses on the action of making something better than the existing benchmark.

rise above the benchmark

Implies exceeding the benchmark in a notable or significant way.

do better than the benchmark

A more casual way to express outperforming the benchmark.

exceed expectations

Similar meaning, but refers to exceeding anticipated outcomes rather than a specific benchmark.

set a new standard

Implies establishing a higher benchmark through superior performance.

FAQs

What does it mean to "beat the benchmark" in finance?

In finance, to "beat the benchmark" means to outperform a specific index or standard used to measure the performance of an investment portfolio. For example, a fund manager might aim to "outperform the S&P 500".

What are some alternatives to saying "beat the benchmark"?

You can use alternatives like "exceed the benchmark", "outperform the benchmark", or "surpass the benchmark" depending on the context.

Is "beat the benchmark" formal or informal?

"Beat the benchmark" is generally considered neutral and acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, alternatives like "exceed the benchmark" may be preferred.

How can I use "beat the benchmark" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "Our investment strategy aims to consistently "beat the market index"" or "The new product's sales figures "beat the company benchmark" by 15%."