Summary List PlacementSome of BlackRock's hedge funds have seen stronger performance so far in 2021 than earlier this year, but four of its five strategies are still underperforming the average fund. The world's largest asset manager's $601 million Emerging Companies hedge fund, led by Dan Whitestone, grew 11.5% year to date as of Aug. 6, according to HSBC's latest Hedge Weekly report. It was the only fund in BlackRock's lineup to beat the average hedge fund, which returned 10% through July, according to Hedge Fund Research.