Quantitative analysis is the use of models, or algorithms, to evaluate assets for investment. The process usually consists of searching vast databases for patterns, such as correlations among liquid assets or price-movement patterns (trend following or mean reversion). The resulting strategies may involve high-frequency trading.
Some of the larger investment managers using quantitative analysis include Renaissance Technologies, Winton Capital Management, D. E. Shaw & Co., AQR Capital Management, and Two Sigma Investments.