Factor Investing: One or Many?
Factor Investing: A roundup of recent analysis and developments
A divergence of views is emerging about how investors should approach factor investing. Some argue that a sophisticated, multi-factor approach should be the considered approach, whilst others suggest that a refined, single factor strategy can still produce superior returns.
Factor investing is currently a 'hot topic' amongst investors. However, industry participants are faced with a variety of potential solutions when reviewing their use in portfolio construction. Conflicting opinions are being expressed as to whether a modified single factor model can still deliver results, or whether investors should actually consider complex, multi-factor approaches. In this round-up of recent research, Savvy Investor presents the best papers exploring both sides of the argument.
Combine factors the right way (AGF, Sep 2019)
In this short paper, AGF suggests that in portfolio construction, a multi-factor strategy should begin at the individual stock level.
Reconciling Single Factor Indices with Strong Factor Intensity (Scientific Beta)
In this 39 page report, Scientific Beta introduces their offering of single smart factor indices which give exposure to academically validated risk factors. They assert that their indices offer both significant exposure to the required factor and superior long-term risk-adjusted performance through the use of a unique High-Factor-Intensity filter.
EDHEC European ETF, Smart Beta and Factor Investing Survey 2019
In this 12th survey of investment market practitioners, EDHEC-Risk Institute investigates current practice amongst European investors regarding ETF and factor investing and compares these results with previous survey data in an attempt to offer some insight into developments and trends within the ETF market.
Factor equity strategies in the business cycle - some analyses (Vontobel AM)
Vontobel investigates the performance of various factor-based approaches to equity investing from 1975-2018, paying close attention to fluctuating changes in investor attitude to risk and how this influences and impacts upon the returns of different factor strategies over the business cycle.
Factors for return enhancement (Invesco, 2019)
For compliance reasons, this paper is only accessible in certain geographies
Invesco discusses the utilisation of factor investing across equity portfolios with the objective of obtaining greater returns, but caveat that there can be unintended consequences of an unsophisticated approach.
Has the Factor World Gone Mad…an impending Quant Crisis? (Axioma blog, Sep 2019)
Axioma compares recent events and unusual returns from specific fundamental factors with a similar period in 2007 and conclude that history isn’t repeating itself!
Smart Beta Strategies: A Main Driver of ETF Demand (Blackrock, 2019)
For compliance reasons, this paper is only accessible in the United States
Greenwich Associates 9th Annual US ETFs Study finds widespread acceptance by investors to using factor-based ETFs as part of portfolio allocations.
Factor Report (Lazard AM, Oct 2019)
Lazard investigates the various factor returns across equity markets and produce a compendium of chart data to aid investors.
Explaining the recent poor performance of factor strategies (Scientific Beta)
Scientific Beta illustrates that underperformance in factor strategies has more in common with the actual way in which factor choices and exposure are implemented, rather than the actual factor themselves.
Finding winning funds through factors (Style Analytics, 2019)
In this paper, Style Analytics suggests that the investment community needs new tools and methods with which to compare managers and funds, and how using the right tool may assist in finding superior performance.
The Volatility Effect Revisited (Robeco, 2019)
In this paper, the authors suggest that the low-risk (low volatility) effect still persists and may offer investors comparable returns to those employing higher risk strategies.
U.S. Company Size: Bigger's Been Better (GMO, Sep 2019)
In this quarterly letter, GMO argues that although the biggest stocks in the US market have increased profitability significantly over the last 30 years, much of this improvement is already fully reflected in ratings.
Protecting Multifactor Indices against ESG Risks (Scientific Beta, 2019)
Scientific Beta examines how their ESG approach and filters (including exclusion) are integrated into their premier product, but still offer investors the ability to implement multi-smart factor strategies without potentially sacrificing performance.
