What is one main benefit of conducting returns-based style analysis?

Conducting returns-based style analysis primarily benefits investors by helping them understand the return drivers of a portfolio without needing specific holding data. This analysis is focused on the performance of a portfolio in relation to broad market benchmarks and style indices, which indicates how much of the portfolio’s returns can be attributed to its exposure to various factors, such as market risk or value versus growth styles.

By analyzing historical returns and comparing them to those of different asset class benchmarks, investors can ascertain the style and risk exposures of the portfolio. This understanding can guide investment decisions, provide insights into whether the returns achieved were due to the manager's skill or inherent market factors, and facilitate better asset allocation choices.

This approach does not require granular details of the individual assets within the portfolio, allowing for a high-level analysis of performance trends and risk factors, which adds significant value for portfolio management and strategy refinement.