Tradable Aggregate Risk Factors and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns

Abstract

We propose a new set of tradable aggregate risk factors that help us understand the cross-section of stock returns. We argue that the true stochastic discount factor is a combination of aggregate return factors that drive equity market returns. Hence, we consider new factors using data such as market dividend swaps and market volatility futures. In the particular case of value and size portfolios, we find that differences in expected returns can be explained by a single-factor projection of the discount factor that loads only on a dividend growth return factor constructed with market dividend swap data. Hence, value and small capitalization stocks have higher expected returns due to their exposure to dividend growth returns implying that growth risks (dividend growth news and/or expected return news associated with dividend growth) are the only source of their risk premia. A tradable dividend level factor and a volatility-based factor are also priced in the cross-section of other stock portfolios sorted on dividend yield, earnings yield and cash-flow-to-price.

Keywords: Asset Pricing; Factor model; Value premium; Size premium

JEL Classification: G12