The Risk and Return from Factors

43 Pages Posted: 10 Feb 1998 Last revised: 1 Sep 2022

See all articles by Louis K.C. Chan

Louis K.C. Chan

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Finance

J. Karaceski

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Josef Lakonishok

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: July 1997

Abstract

The ability to identify which factors best capture systematic return covariation is central to applications of multifactor pricing models. This paper uses a common data set to evaluate the performance of various proposed factors in capturing return comovements. Factors associated with the market, size, past return, book-to-market and dividend yield help explain return comovement on an out-of-sample basis (although they are not necessarily associated with large premiums in average returns). Except for the default premium and the term premium, macroeconomic factors perform poorly. We document regularities in the behavior of the more important factors, and confirm their influence in the Japanese and U.K. markets as well.

Suggested Citation

Chan, Louis K.C. and Karaceski, J. and Lakonishok, Josef, The Risk and Return from Factors (July 1997). NBER Working Paper No. w6098, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=58418

Louis K.C. Chan

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Finance ( email )

1206 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
217-333-6391 (Phone)
217-244-3102 (Fax)

J. Karaceski

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Josef Lakonishok (Contact Author)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( email )

1206 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
217-333-7185 (Phone)
217-244-3102 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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