Hedge funds, asset managers, and pension funds are planning to increase spending on alternative data this year, reflecting growing demand and strong senior management backing, according to new research from Exabel, an alternative data insights and analytics platform.
The global survey, conducted across the US, UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore with senior staff at firms managing around $2.4tn in assets, found that 94% of respondents expect to increase alternative data spending in 2026, with nearly one in five (18%) anticipating a substantial rise.
The report highlights a continuation of recent growth: more than half (54%) of firms said their budgets for purchasing and managing alternative data have grown by 50% or more over the past two years, while 5% reported their budgets have more than doubled. Every firm surveyed indicated some level of spending increase during this period.
Senior management support for alternative data is also high. Around 58% of respondents said their senior leaders are “very committed” to its use, with the remaining 42% describing their commitment as “quite strong,” according to Exabel’s Alternative Data Buy-side Insights & Trends 2026 report.
Most firms (84%) currently allocate between $500,000 and $2.5m annually on alternative datasets, with 4% spending above $2.5m. The investments cover data management, staffing, and dataset acquisition.
Tim Harrington, CEO of BattleFin and Exabel, said: “Budgets for alternative data are set to rise this year, and senior management commitment to using these insights in investment research is high. Most firms are investing meaningful—but disciplined—amounts, generally between $500,000 and $2.5m annually.”
