Over the past decade, a number of modern and sophisticated methods have been developed to optimize the composition of equity portfolios. Most of these methods are based on complex mathematical or financial modelling. Less emphasis has been placed on companies’ internal data, while in recent years external data have become increasingly important. However, for long-term investments, the dominance of external data is not necessarily an efficient way to construct an appropriate portfolio. In this paper, we highlight the phenomenon that complex mathematical models, the based on simpler fundamental indicators can also be an efficient investment tool for in making investment decisions. Our results show that our hypothesis has been confirmed that some basic-based indicators can achieve alpha returns. Our analysis is based on financial reporting data in the form of various financial indicators. We used the S&P500 index as benchmark. A comparative analysis of the stock portfolio created illustrates that basic analysis can be more effective than a chosen market-based stock index. By the end of the period under review, the portfolio based on the selected five core financial indicators had a market capitalization 1.68% higher than the benchmark. The alpha return achieved also demonstrates that even simpler models can be efficient and effective in creating an equity portfolio.

As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, the international financial system underwent a fundamental change. The crisis has highlighted various weaknesses in the economic system. One of these weaknesses was the unregulated nature of investment markets and their inefficient structural structure. Funds managed by investment fund managers have also been hit hard by the crisis. In the post-crisis period of 2008, there was a dynamic economic boom, which also affected the types of investment funds and their changes. However, the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onwards is a special crisis. Its unique nature is reflected in the fact that financial markets have remained stable under the influence of central banks. This, in turn, did not necessarily affect the investment market, and in particular investment funds, as expected in the event of a downturn. In our research, we illustrate the change of investment funds along economic cycles through the quantitative changes of Hungarian investment funds. In our analysis, we illustrate the evolution of fund changes through hierarchical cluster analyzes. In the course of our research, we found that Hungarian investment funds move in line with market and retail investment trends, and the structure of investment funds does not show a significant change during the sixteen years examined, regardless of changes in economic cycles.