Diversified Risk Parity Strategies for Equity Portfolio Selection

Abstract:     
We investigate a new way of equity portfolio selection that provides maximum diversification along the uncorrelated risk sources inherent in the S&P 500 constituents. This diversified risk parity strategy is distinct from prevailing risk-based portfolio construction paradigms. Especially, the strategy is characterized by a concentrated allocation that actively adjusts to changes in the underlying risk structure. In addition, x-raying the risk and diversification characteristics of traditional risk-based strategies like 1/N, minimum-variance, risk parity, or the most-diversified portfolio we find the diversified risk parity strategy to be superior. While most of these alternatives crucially pick up risk-based pricing anomalies like the low-volatility anomaly we observe the diversified risk parity strategy to more effectively exploit systematic factor tilts.

Keywords: risk-based portfolio construction, risk parity, diversification, entropy

JEL Classification: G11, D81

Accepted Paper Series