The LDS Church's stock portfolio through Ensign Peak Advisors is approaching a record high, but financial analysts say its conservative investment strategy has consistently underperformed major market indexes over the past decade.

While the fund's total value continues to grow, its returns lag behind the S&P 500 and similar benchmarks by several percentage points annually, according to an analysis by the Salt Lake Tribune. The Church's approach favors stability and income over aggressive growth.

Ensign Peak manages an estimated $185 billion in assets, making it among the largest institutional investors in the United States. The fund became public knowledge after a 2019 whistleblower complaint about its size and tax-exempt status.