underperform

American  

[uhn-der-per-fawrm] / ˌʌn dər pərˈfɔrm /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform less well than (another of its kind, a general average, etc.) or less well than expected.

   Surprisingly, the stock has underperformed the market indexes all year. Several of our best players consistently underperform.

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Other Word Forms

• underperformance
  noun

Etymology

Origin of underperform

under- + perform

Example Sentences

As for what happens after the IPO, Ritter’s data show that IPOs trading at high price-to-sales ratios underperform their benchmarks over the next three years.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Despite his more conservative overall valuation, Damodaran doesn’t believe the company’s shares will necessarily underperform.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Typically, self-funded campaigns underperform compared to more traditional campaigns, in part because donors are engaged voters and raising money activates their networks as well, Blank said.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

They cut their recommendation on the stock to underperform from hold and price target to 16 euros from 17 euros.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

They would bet, for instance, that bonds with large numbers of loans made in California would underperform bonds with very little of California in them.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis