Characteristics-Based Portfolio Choice with Leverage Constraints

46 Pages Posted: 23 Feb 2016 Last revised: 20 Oct 2020

See all articles by Manuel Ammann

Manuel Ammann

University of St. Gallen - School of Finance

Guillaume Coqueret

EMLYON Business School

Jan-Philip Schade

University of St. Gallen - School of Finance

Date Written: February 22, 2016

Abstract

We show that the introduction of a leverage constraint improves the practical implementation of characteristics-based portfolios. The addition of the constraint leads to significantly lower transaction costs, to a reduction of negative portfolio weights, and to a decrease in volatility and misspecification risk. Furthermore, it allows investors to implement any desired level of leverage. In this study, we include 12 characteristics, thereby extending the classical size, book-to-market and momentum paradigm. We report several key indicators such as the proportion of negative weights, Sharpe ratio, volatility, transaction costs, the transaction cost-adjusted certainty equivalent returns, and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index. Analyzing the sensitivity of these key indicators to the choice of multiple combinations of the 12 characteristics, to risk aversion, and to estimation sample size, we show that constrained policies are much less sensitive to these parameters than their unconstrained counterparts. Finally, for quadratic utility, we derive a semi-closed analytical form for the portfolio weights. Overall, we provide a comprehensive extension of characteristics-based portfolio choice and contribute to a better understanding and implementation of the allocation process.

Keywords: Portfolio choice, leverage constraint, characteristics-based investing

Suggested Citation

Ammann, Manuel and Coqueret, Guillaume and Schade, Jan-Philip, Characteristics-Based Portfolio Choice with Leverage Constraints (February 22, 2016). Journal of Banking and Finance, Forthcoming, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance Research Paper No. 2016/06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2736324 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2736324

Manuel Ammann (Contact Author)

University of St. Gallen - School of Finance ( email )

Unterer Graben 21
St.Gallen, CH-9000
Switzerland

Guillaume Coqueret

EMLYON Business School ( email )

23 Avenue Guy de Collongue
Ecully, 69132
France

Jan-Philip Schade

University of St. Gallen - School of Finance ( email )

Unterer Graben 21
St.Gallen, CH-9000
Switzerland

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