Leverage is an important risk factor which has been ignored in the asset pricing literature. This paper attempts to broaden the focus of the current asset pricing literature by forming portfolios mimicking the leverage factor. Leverage is a vital risk factor that explains stock returns. We also...

We use an investment strategy based on firm level capital structures. Investing in low leverage firms yields abnormal returns of 4.43 percent per annum. If an investor holds a portfolio of low leverage and low market to book ratio firms abnormal returns increase to 16.18 percent per annum. A...

We investigate the effect of firm's leverage on stock returns. We start with the explicit valuation model of Modigliani and Miller (1958) and expand the model by including other variables and undertaking a firm and portfolio level analysis. We show that stock returns decline in leverage and that...

We study the relation between capital structure and abnormal returns. We show that a firm's industry matters. Abnormal returns decline in firm leverage. However, abnormal returns increase as the average industry leverage in a risk class increases. Separating the average level of external...

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the investment performance of pension funds in the UK using the three standard performance measurement models, the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), Fama-French model and the Carhart model. Design/methodology/approach -The authors use the CAPS-Mellon...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of leverage mimicking factor portfolios in explaining stock return variations. This paper broadens the focus of the current asset pricing literature by forming portfolios mimicking the leverage factor. Design/methodology/approach –...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of leverage mimicking factor portfolios in explaining stock return variations. This paper broadens the focus of the current asset pricing literature by forming portfolios mimicking the leverage factor. Design/methodology/approach –...