Analyzing Investments Whose Histories Differ in Length

52 Pages Posted: 13 Jul 2000 Last revised: 4 Sep 2022

See all articles by Robert F. Stambaugh

Robert F. Stambaugh

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: February 1997

Abstract

This study explores multivariate methods for investment analysis based on a sample of return histories that differ in length across assets. The longer histories provide greater information about moments of returns, not only for the longer-history assets, but for the shorter-history assets as well. To account for the remaining parameter uncertainty, or estimation risk,' portfolio opportunities are characterized by a Bayesian predictive distribution. Examples involving emerging markets demonstrate the value of using the combined sample of histories and accounting for estimation risk, as compared to truncating the sample to produce equal-length histories or ignoring estimation risk by using maximum-likelihood estimates.

Suggested Citation

Stambaugh, Robert F., Analyzing Investments Whose Histories Differ in Length (February 1997). NBER Working Paper No. w5918, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=225699

Robert F. Stambaugh (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

The Wharton School, Finance Department
University of Pennsylvania
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United States
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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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