We propose an extension of standard asymmetric volatility models in the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) class that admits conditional non-Gaussianities in a tractable fashion. Our "bad environment-good environment" (BEGE) model utilizes two gamma-distributed...

We use the returns on lottery-like stocks to construct a novel index for investor sentiment in the stock market. This new measure is closely related to previously developed sentiment indicators, but more accurately tracks speculative episodes over the sample period. Using our index, we find that...

We integrate fundamental analysis with mean-variance portfolio optimization to form fully optimized fundamental portfolios. We find that fully optimized fundamental portfolios produce large out-of-sample factor alphas with high Sharpe ratios. They substantially outperform equal-weighted and...

Using the most comprehensive dataset of leveraged funds known to the literature, we measure the market-wide shadow cost of leverage constraints and examine its pricing implications. The shadow cost averages 0.56% per annum from 2006 to 2016, spikes upon quarter-ends when banks face tighter...

Betting-against-risk (BAR) anomaly portfolios formed on past beta and idiosyncratic / total volatility produce large CAPM alphas. But these return spreads are well explained by the Fama--French six-factor model (FF6). Operating profitability, investment, and momentum factors subsume the low-risk...

We construct mean-variance optimized currency portfolios and analyze the time- series variation of the conditional Sharpe ratio. Returns, volatility and skewness are predictable. Market timing – i.e., trading more (less) aggressively when the conditional risk-return trade-off is more (less)...

Portfolio optimization often struggles in realistic out-of-sample contexts. We de-constructthis stylized fact, comparing historical forecasts of portfolio optimization inputs withsubsequent out of sample values. We confirm that historical forecasts are imprecise guidesof subsequent values but...