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Rational Cross-Sectional Differences in Market Efficiency: Evidence from Mutual Fund Returns

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  • Schultz, Paul

Abstract

Markets should be inefficient enough to allow returns to security analysis to adequately compensate the marginal analyst for his efforts. Cross-sectional differences in the costs of analysis therefore imply cross-sectional differences in market efficiency and in before-cost returns to smart investors. Small growth stocks are difficult to analyze and costly to trade. I find that the abnormal returns of mutual fund investments in small growth stocks from 1980 to 2006 averaged 0.76% per month. Large value stocks are easier to analyze and cheaper to trade. Mutual funds earned average monthly abnormal returns of only 0.05% in large value stocks during the same period.

Suggested Citation

  • Schultz, Paul, 2010. "Rational Cross-Sectional Differences in Market Efficiency: Evidence from Mutual Fund Returns," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(4), pages 847-881, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:45:y:2010:i:04:p:847-881_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Qifei Zhu, 2020. "The Missing New Funds," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(3), pages 1193-1204, March.
    2. Wang, Qin (Emma) & Zhang, Jun, 2023. "Local institutional investors and debt maturity," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    3. Mason, Andrew & Agyei-Ampomah, Sam & Skinner, Frank, 2016. "Realism, skill, and incentives: Current and future trends in investment management and investment performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 31-40.
    4. Yamani, Ehab, 2023. "The informational role of fund flow in the profitable predictability of mutual funds," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Yang, Lisa (Zongfei) & Goh, Jeremy & Chiyachantana, Chiraphol, 2016. "Valuation uncertainty, market sentiment and the informativeness of institutional trades," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 81-98.
    6. Irem Demirci & Miguel A Ferreira & Pedro Matos & Clemens Sialm, 2022. "How Global Is Your Mutual Fund? International Diversification from Multinationals," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 35(7), pages 3337-3372.
    7. Agyei-Ampomah, Sam & Clare, Andrew & Mason, Andrew & Thomas, Stephen, 2015. "On luck versus skill when performance benchmarks are style-consistent," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 127-145.
    8. Chi, Yeguang & He, Jingbin & Wu, Fei & Yin, Bijiao, 2022. "Optimal information production of mutual funds: Evidence from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    9. Scott Bennett & David R Gallagher & Graham Harman & Geoffrey J Warren & Lihui Xi, 2016. "Alpha generation in portfolio management: Long-run Australian equity fund evidence," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 41(1), pages 107-140, February.

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