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Portfolio Quality and Mutual Fund Performance

Author

Listed:
  • David R. Gallagher
  • Peter A. Gardner
  • Camille H. Schmidt
  • Terry S. Walter

Abstract

This study investigates how the quality of stocks owned by mutual funds affects the performance of those funds during 2000–2009. The quality of a stock is positively related to its size, while quality is inversely related to volatility. Evidently, stocks in the lowest quality decile perform particularly poorly amidst volatile market conditions with a mean monthly Daniel, Grinblatt, Titman and Wermers (DGTW) alpha 1.93% [25.73% per annum (pa)] less than high-quality stocks. Furthermore, funds which hold the lowest quality stocks exhibit substantial underperformance, particularly during market downturns, with funds in the lowest decile of quality incurring a mean monthly DGTW alpha 0.96% (12.14% pa) lower than their higher quality counterparts. Interestingly, we discover a trend to funds investing in higher quality stocks over time.

Suggested Citation

  • David R. Gallagher & Peter A. Gardner & Camille H. Schmidt & Terry S. Walter, 2014. "Portfolio Quality and Mutual Fund Performance," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 14(4), pages 485-521, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:irvfin:v:14:y:2014:i:4:p:485-521
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/irfi.12031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chen, Mei-Ping, 2021. "The effects of investor attention and policy uncertainties on cross-border country exchange-traded fund returns," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 830-852.
    3. N/A, 2014. "Editorial: November 2014," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 39(4), pages 495-496, November.
    4. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chen, Mei-Ping, 2020. "Happiness sentiments and the prediction of cross-border country exchange-traded fund returns," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    5. Irfan Safdar & Michael Neel & Babatunde Odusami, 2022. "Accounting information and left-tail risk," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1709-1740, May.
    6. David R. Gallagher & Graham Harman & Camille H. Schmidt & Geoffrey J. Warren, 2022. "Global equity fund performance adjusted for equity and currency factors," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1535-1565, April.
    7. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chen, Mei-Ping, 2020. "Do natural disasters and geopolitical risks matter for cross-border country exchange-traded fund returns?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

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