Andy Green, CFA, and Sue Hutchinson, CFA, are considering adding alternative investments to the portfolio they manage for a private client. After much discussion, they have decided to add a hedge fund to the portfolio. In their research, Mr. Green focuses on hedge funds that have the highest returns, while Ms. Hutchinson focuses on finding hedge funds that can reduce portfolio risk while maintaining the same level of return.
After completing their research, Mr. Green proposes two funds: the New Horizon Emerging Market Fund (NH), which takes long-term positions in emerging markets, and the Hi Rise Real Estate Fund (HR), which holds a highly leveraged real estate portfolio. Ms. Hutchinson proposes two hedge funds: the Quality Commodity Fund (QC), which takes conservative positions in commodities, and the Beta Naught Fund (BN), which manages an equity long/short portfolio that targets a market risk of zero. The table below details the statistics for the existing portfolio, as well as for the four potential funds.
The standard deviation of the market’s return is 18 percent.

Existing NH HR QC BN
Average Return 10.00% 20.00% 10.00% 6.00% 4.00%
StandardDeviation 16.00% 50.00% 16.00% 16.00% 25.00%
Beta 0.80 0.90 0.40 -0.20 0.00
Correlation with Existing-
Portfolio 0.32 0.45 -0.23 0.00

Mr. Green and Ms. Hutchinson have agreed to select the fund that will provide a portfolio with the highest return-to-risk ratio (i. e., average return relative to standard deviation). They have decided to invest 10 percent of the portfolio in the selected fund.
As an alternative to one fund, Mr. Green and Ms. Hutchinson have discussed investing 5 percent in the Beta Naught Fund (BN) and 5 percent in one of the other three funds. This new 50/50 hedge fund would then serve as the 10 percent allocation in the portfolio.
Mr. Green and Ms. Hutchinson divided up their research into return enhancement and diversification benefits.
Based upon the stated goals of their research, which of the two approaches is more likely to lead to an appropriate choice?

a. Green’s research.
b. Hutchinson’s research.
c. Neither is appropriate.