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The high returns to low volatility stocks are actually a premium on high quality firms

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  • Walkshäusl, Christian

Abstract

Recent empirical research shows that low volatility stocks outperform high volatility stocks around the world. This study documents that the volatility effect is associated with the quality of the firm using a large sample of international stocks. First, adding a quality factor to the Fama–French model contributes to the explanation of the volatility effect. Furthermore, the negative volatility–return relation is shown to be stronger and significant only among high quality firms which are profitable and have stable cash flows. Second, a fundamental investment strategy that goes long high quality firms and short low quality firms performs like a volatility strategy and cannot be explained by common asset pricing models. However, a low–high volatility factor adds to the explanation of the return difference between high and low quality stocks as volatility and quality strategies have a common component.

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  • Walkshäusl, Christian, 2013. "The high returns to low volatility stocks are actually a premium on high quality firms," Review of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 180-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:revfin:v:22:y:2013:i:4:p:180-186
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rfe.2013.06.001
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    2. Kaya, Orçun & Mostowfi, Mehdi, 2022. "Low-volatility strategies for highly liquid cryptocurrencies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Volatility effect; Quality investing; Asset pricing; International markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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