Predicting Equity Returns in Emerging Markets

Abstract

This study investigates the relation between firm-specific attributes and future equity returns in 23 emerging markets. Equal-weighted portfolio returns reveal strong evidence of short-term momentum (rather than reversal) and medium-term return momentum. We also find evidence that market beta, book-to-market ratio and downside risk metrics predict equity returns, however, these relations get weaker once value-weighting is used. In univariate regressions, smaller firms with higher idiosyncratic volatility, lottery-like characteristics and stock-specific downside risk are associated with higher future returns, however, these relations disappear in a multivariate setting. We conclude that the most robust cross-sectional effects are short- and medium-term return momentum.

Keywords: tail risk, momentum, anomalies, cross-section of equity returns, emerging markets

JEL Classification: G10, G11, G12