Do Implied Volatilities Predict Stock Returns?

Abstract

Using a complete sample of US equity options, we find a positive, highly significant relation between stock returns and lagged implied volatilities. The results are robust after controlling for a number of factors such as firm size, market value, analyst recommendations and different levels of implied volatility. Lagged historical volatility is - in contrast to the corresponding implied volatility - not relevant for stock returns. We find considerable time variation in the relation between lagged implied volatility and stock returns.

Keywords: Implied Volatility, Expected Returns