The S&P 500 index is a size factor-based index that is not a good benchmark for measuring alpha (market intelligence). Naive portfolios generated by random sampling provide a better alpha benchmark.
Random Portfolio benchmarks
- Published in Stock Trends

Hence, anyone who had followed the "Stock Trends" line should have sold their Bre-X shares and, with the windfall, paid for a lifetime subscription to The Globe and Mail and more. Talk about return on investment!