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Downside risk and hedge fund returns

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  • Argyropoulos, Christos
  • Panopoulou, Ekaterini
  • Vrontos, Spyridon

Abstract

This study compares the predictive power of downside risk for hedge funds and fund of hedge funds returns. We find a positive relationship between downside risk and return for hedge funds but not for funds of hedge funds. This result is robust to the downside risk measure employed and additional control variables. Furthermore, we find that funds of hedge funds perform significantly worse than hedge funds during adverse equity market regimes, exhibiting an inverse (negative) risk–return relationship. Finally, we form realistic portfolios to determine whether an investor can construct a portfolio that outperforms the average fund of hedge funds. These portfolios display superior risk-adjusted performance and rank among the top performers of funds of hedge funds in our sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Argyropoulos, Christos & Panopoulou, Ekaterini & Vrontos, Spyridon, 2025. "Downside risk and hedge fund returns," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:171:y:2025:i:c:s0378426624002590
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2024.107345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hedge funds; Funds of hedge funds; Downside risk; Optimal diversification strategies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics

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