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Yes they can and many do. It’s just not likely if you’re actively trading.

• mensetmanusman 4y ago
  Of course some do, but there are just as many (and a bit more) that under perform. The average performance relative to the index matters.
  • carnitine 4y ago
    Yes, but that’s not what the comment I’m replying to said. There seems to be some pervasive belief that absolutely no one ever beats the S&P500 index in the long run, which is obviously nonsense.
    • mensetmanusman 4y ago
      There is a chance to beat the market, just as there is a chance to beat the house.
    • bowsamic 4y ago
      Absolutely no normal person beats it except by dumb luck
      • carnitine 4y ago
        If I spent the last 20 years allocating 90% of my savings to SPY, and the remaining 10% in a large-cap tech focussed index, I’ve outperformed SPY. Is that dumb luck or is it a pretty trivial implementation of a sensible investment thesis? There’s nothing magical about some committee-curated collection of 500 US-only equities which means it outperforms every other option ipso facto. If you were talking about a normal person actively managing a portfolio I’d be more inclined to agree.