• Northern Trust Universe data showed a 6.6% median return for large U.S. institutional plans in Q2 2026 as global equities hit new highs.
• Median Q2 returns: foundations and endowments 7%, public funds 6.6%, corporate ERISA plans 4.5%.
• S&P 500 rose 15.2% in the quarter; Northern Trust’s US equity program universe returned 14.9% median, non-US equity 11.7%.
• US fixed income posted a 1.1% median return; the Fed held rates at 3.5%-3.75% while signaling a more restrictive stance.
• ERISA plans lifted US fixed income allocation above 56%, a record; foundations and endowments cut private equity to below 25%.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Northern Trust Corporation published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20260729015315) on July 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.