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A risk-return explanation of the momentum-reversal “anomaly”

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  • Geoffrey Booth, G.
  • Fung, Hung-Gay
  • Leung, Wai Kin

Abstract

This study investigates the nature of the momentum-reversal phenomenon exhibited by U.S. stock returns from 1962 to 2013. We use cumulative future returns of long–short portfolios, which are formed using prior returns as benchmarks, after portfolio formation to analyze the well-documented momentum-reversal pattern. Contrary to many previous studies our results demonstrate that there is no momentum-reversal anomaly. We show that size (market capitalization), which is often considered a proxy for risk, eventually dominates momentum's initial effect, causing stock prices and, hence, returns to move in the opposite direction. We demonstrate that this latter price movement is likely to be related to institutional trading.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoffrey Booth, G. & Fung, Hung-Gay & Leung, Wai Kin, 2016. "A risk-return explanation of the momentum-reversal “anomaly”," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 68-77.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:empfin:v:35:y:2016:i:c:p:68-77
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2015.10.007
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    Cited by:

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    3. Wang, Wenzhao, 2018. "Investor sentiment and the mean-variance relationship: European evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 227-239.
    4. Yu, Lin & Liu, Xiaoquan & Fung, Hung-Gay & Leung, Wai Kin, 2020. "Size and value effects in high-tech industries: The role of R&D investment," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Seung-Hyun Moon & Yong-Hyuk Kim & Byung-Ro Moon, 2019. "Empirical investigation of state-of-the-art mean reversion strategies for equity markets," Papers 1909.04327, arXiv.org.
    6. Mario Enrique Negrete, 2024. "Constant Leverage Covering Strategy for Equity Momentum Portfolio with Transaction Costs," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, June.
    7. Hung-Wen Lin & Kun-Ben Lin & Jing-Bo Huang & Shu-Heng Chen, 2021. "Timely Loss Recognition Helps Nothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-24, July.
    8. He, Zhifang, 2022. "Asymmetric impacts of individual investor sentiment on the time-varying risk-return relation in stock market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 177-194.
    9. Yang, Jinyu & Dong, Dayong & Cao, Jiawei, 2024. "Seemingly manipulated anomaly: Evidence from corporate site visits," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asset pricing; Stock returns; Momentum; Market capitalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates

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