Our Systematic Active Equities team invests using big data, scientific analysis, and human expertise to seek differentiated portfolio outcomes. In a data-rich world, we use cutting-edge technology and sophisticated analytics to uncover investment insights faster, at greater scale, and with more granularity than traditional methods.
Systematic Active Equities
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Benefits of a systematic approach
Alternative data
Alternative data goes beyond information included in financial statements. It provides the potential to uncover investment opportunities before they’re priced into markets.
Risk management
In our view, robust risk management is essential to generating consistent returns. Systematic tools and analysis help to continuously manage and navigate evolving risks.
Systematic process
A systematic approach can transform a sea of raw data into actionable insights. We use proprietary technology to scale our analysis and implementation techniques.
Engineered for outcomes
Designed to deliver differentiated return profiles and diversification benefits, systematic equity strategies may complement existing portfolios and enhance outcomes.
We believe that better and more differentiated investment insights from new data and new techniques are becoming necessary conditions for investment success.
Jeff Shen, PhDCo-Chief Investment Officer, Co-Head of Systematic Active Equities
Our investment philosophy
Our mission is to deliver consistent, differentiated, alpha. Sourcing alpha opportunities has always required an investment edge–which is becoming more difficult to achieve and maintain in a hyper-informed world.
We believe staying ahead requires three key characteristics:
Think differentlySeek insights not yet reflected in markets
Evolve continuouslyMaintain an information edge as insights decay
Remain relevantConstantly reflect the current opportunity set
Robust human expertise
Our approach to systematic investing goes beyond data and technology. Human intellect is central to investment decision-making. Just as our process has evolved over time, so has the human expertise involved in these efforts. This multi-disciplinary foundation is seen as a key source of strength and differentiation.
Contact the team
Systematic investing
Leadership
Raffaele Savi
Global Head of Systematic – BlackRock
Jeff Shen
Co-Chief Investment Officer, Systematic Active Equities team – BlackRock
Latest systematic investing insights
Don't Lose Your Breadth: The Key to Macro Resilience
July 10, 2026 | By Systematic investing
Many macro strategies are more concentrated than they appear. Learn why breadth—the number of truly independent sources of return in a portfolio—may be one of the most overlooked drivers of macro resilience.
From Data to Deals: An AI-Driven Approach to Growth Equity Investing
May 19, 2026 | By Systematic Investing
As value creation shifts to private markets, data and AI are shaping how investors source, evaluate, and monitor growth companies—contributing to a more systematic, evidence-based approach to capturing early-stage scale.
Marco matters: Smarter global hedge fund allocations
20-Apr-2026 | By Systematic Investing
Our latest research reveals why global macro hedge funds deserve a fresh look—and given the differentiated diversification benefits—can likely play a larger role in sophisticated portfolios.
Equity Market Outlook
18-Dec-2025 | By Systematic Investing
Q1 2026 stock market outlook from BlackRock covering AI investing and equity opportunities outside the U.S. including Europe, Japan and emerging markets.
Alternative data for systematic investing
Oct 21, 2025 | By Systematic Investing
In an era where data is abundant and accessible, in our view, it is discernment — not information — that defines the competitive edge.
The underestimated edge: machine learning in macro investing
30-Sept-2025 | By Systematic Investing
Can machine learning thrive in macro? Purpose-built approaches show it can—transforming sparse data and local signals into scalable, alpha-driven strategies.
Macro matters: Global hedge fund allocations
07-Apr-2025 | By Systematic Investing
Macro volatility has returned to markets. Discover why many investors are reassessing their portfolios, with a particular focus on idiosyncratic return streams.
Time to Tilt: Harnessing factor cyclicality
04-Apr-2025 | By Systematic Investing
Navigating market shifts requires a dynamic approach. This research explores how investors can harness factor cyclicality seeking to generate returns throughout different phases of the economic cycle.
Novel risks and sources of volatility
01-Apr-2025 | By Systematic Investing
This interview explores whether AI and machine learning are mitigating or introducing new risks in portfolios. It also examines the role of data in identifying and managing novel sources of volatility.
Income, evolved: A systematic approach to diversifying income sources
01-Nov-2024 | By Systematic Investing
An evolved approach to income investing within equities can help investors better navigate the challenges of today’s markets. A systematic investment approach can devise better ways to anticipate and efficiently harvest dividends.
How AI is transforming investing
15-Sep-2023 | By Systematic Investing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has garnered widespread attention with the public launch of ChatGPT. Learn how these same technologies can be used in investing.
Augmented investment management
12-Sep-2023 | By Systematic Investing
In our data-rich world, active managers face the challenge of distilling several information sources into a holistic view. Learn how we use machine learning to help combine investment signals and design alpha models.
Additional resources
Insights hub
Stay ahead of the markets with insights from our strategists and portfolio managers, uncover the latest on the global economy, geopolitics and retirement among other timely investment ideas.
Equities
Investors are navigating multiple headwinds as a new market reality of higher inflation and interest rates hits return expectations. Given their long-term growth potential and diversification benefits, equities remain a core portfolio allocation
Additional resources
Insights hub
Stay ahead of the markets with insights from our strategists and portfolio managers, uncover the latest on the global economy, geopolitics and retirement among other timely investment ideas.
Equities
Investors are navigating multiple headwinds as a new market reality of higher inflation and interest rates hits return expectations. Given their long-term growth potential and diversification benefits, equities remain a core portfolio allocation