We are slipping toward the bottom quartile in the league.

But by the time they're seniors, they're in the bottom quartile.

"You are more likely to end up in the top quartile or the bottom quartile."

"If the stock price did not go up, I would be in the bottom quartile" of chief executive pay, he pointed out.

In 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994 both funds underperformed their peers, usually tumbling to the bottom quartile of funds.

Wages are rising in the bottom quartile for workers who provide personal services.

Those two ranked in the bottom quartile of their peers in annualized return over the last five years, according to Morningstar.

But even with standards, there will always be a bottom quartile.

"Ten years ago, more than 20 percent of our kids were in the bottom quartile" on citywide standardized tests, Ms. Fink said.

When a manager's fund ends up in the bottom quartile of similar funds, "that's cause for concern," he said.