Economies of scale is a widely discussed concept. In this paper, we discuss a differentiated analytical process for evaluating cases when economies of scale leads to competitive advantages that are sustainable. Through the example of Shoprite Holdings, we present an analytical process for...

This paper undertakes the issue of portfolio insurance from the perspective of a risk-averse agent requiring his financial wealth to grow at a floored rate in excess of an equity benchmark. The suggested solution is a generalization of the CPPI approach within a two-equity asset framework. The...

The purpose of this research report is to present an evaluation of advisory service pricing performance in the 1999 crop year for corn and soybeans. Specifically, the average price received by a subscriber to an advisory service is calculated for corn and soybean crops harvested in 1999. The...

Many property and casualty insurance companies vigorously pursue insurance premium growth. However, such growth is fraught with both growth risk and underwriting risk, which can evolve into regulatory risk if it is not carefully managed. There is currently no measure available at the business...

The paper analyzes the notion of an unbeatable strategy as a game solution concept. A general framework (game with relative preferences) suitable for the analysis of this concept is proposed. Basic facts regarding unbeatable strategies are presented and a number of examples and applications...

The informativeness of financial analysts’ stock recommendations to investors has become the subject of much scrutiny and debate. This article investigates the investment value of target price (TP) forecasts under the specific angle of factor investing. It provides directions to quantitative...

Smart beta is a disruptive financial innovation that we believe will be disrupted by the ESG transition. How should smart beta managers position their products within the large ESG spectrum and how should they align their investment objectives and adapt their frameworks in order to achieve those...

Insurers' principal function – underwriting – is to assess and price customer risk. Economic theory suggests that insurers should prioritize underwriting over investment as a source of income. We find that many U.S. non-life insurers conform to theory: they consistently earn high returns on...

We investigate whether competition between the fund companies that offer mutual funds constrains individual fund fees. We document that over half of individual fund fee variation is explained by company-wide components. Moreover, we show using SEC prospectus download data that company-level...

This paper uses mutual fund manager data to examine how managers' performance incentives generated speculative demand during the 2020-2022 cryptocurrency boom and bust. We find that managers with strong relative performance incentives began investing in crypto after their competitors began...