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Generalized financial ratios to predict the equity premium

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  • Algaba, Andres
  • Boudt, Kris

Abstract

Empirical evidence for the price-dividend ratio to be a predictor of the equity premium is weak. We argue that changes in the economic conditions and market composition lead to a time-varying relationship between prices, dividends and the equity premium. Exploiting the information in the rolling window log-log regression of stock prices on dividends, we obtain the Generalized Price-Dividend Ratio (GPDR), that compares the price per share with a time-varying transformation of the dividend per share. The GPDR leads to economic and statistical gains when forecasting the equity premium of the S&P 500 at the 1, 3, 6 and 12 month horizon, as compared to using the classical price-dividend ratio or the prevailing historical average excess market return. Similar improvements are obtained for Generalized Financial Ratios based on the corporate earnings and book value.

Suggested Citation

  • Algaba, Andres & Boudt, Kris, 2017. "Generalized financial ratios to predict the equity premium," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 244-257.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:66:y:2017:i:c:p:244-257
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2017.07.009
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jonathan A. Batten & Harald Kinateder & Niklas Wagner, 2022. "Beating the Average: Equity Premium Variations, Uncertainty, and Liquidity," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 58(3), pages 567-588, September.
    3. McMillan, David G., 2019. "Stock return predictability: Using the cyclical component of the price ratio," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 228-242.
    4. repec:zbw:bofrdp:2018_007 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equity premium; ERP; Forecast combination; Price-dividend ratio; Financial ratios; Time-varying parameters;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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