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Factor Momentum and the Momentum Factor

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  • SINA EHSANI
  • JUHANI T. LINNAINMAA

Abstract

Momentum in individual stock returns relates to momentum in factor returns. Most factors are positively autocorrelated: the average factor earns a monthly return of six basis points following a year of losses and 51 basis points following a positive year. We find that factor momentum concentrates in factors that explain more of the cross section of returns and that it is not incidental to individual stock momentum: momentum‐neutral factors display more momentum. Momentum found in high‐eigenvalue principal component factors subsumes most forms of individual stock momentum. Our results suggest that momentum is not a distinct risk factor—it times other factors.

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  • Sina Ehsani & Juhani T. Linnainmaa, 2022. "Factor Momentum and the Momentum Factor," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 77(3), pages 1877-1919, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:77:y:2022:i:3:p:1877-1919
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13131
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    4. Leland E. Farmer & Lawrence Schmidt & Allan Timmermann, 2023. "Pockets of Predictability," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(3), pages 1279-1341, June.
    5. Pankaj Agrrawal, 2023. "The Gibbons, Ross, and Shanken Test for Portfolio Efficiency: A Note Based on Its Trigonometric Properties," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Beaulieu, Marie-Claude & Dufour, Jean-Marie & Khalaf, Lynda & Melin, Olena, 2023. "Identification-robust beta pricing, spanning, mimicking portfolios, and the benchmark neutrality of catastrophe bonds," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 236(1).
    7. Tobias Wiest, 2023. "Momentum: what do we know 30 years after Jegadeesh and Titman’s seminal paper?," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 37(1), pages 95-114, March.
    8. Marius Ötting & Christian Deutscher & Carl Singleton & Luca De Angelis, 2022. "Gambling on Momentum," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2022-10, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
      • Marius Otting & Christian Deutscher & Carl Singleton & Luca De Angelis, 2022. "Gambling on Momentum," Papers 2211.06052, arXiv.org.
    9. Lee, Tae Kyun & Sohn, So Young, 2023. "Alpha-factor integrated risk parity portfolio strategy in global equity fund of funds," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    10. Tian Ma & Cunfei Liao & Fuwei Jiang, 2023. "Timing the factor zoo via deep learning: Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 485-505, March.
    11. Zaremba, Adam & Cakici, Nusret & Bianchi, Robert J. & Long, Huaigang, 2023. "Interest rate changes and the cross-section of global equity returns," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
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