Value

We Are Not Just Value! Except, You Know, When We Are...

Our systematic stock selection process is far from just “value.” And yet from 2018-2020 for the bad and 2021-2022 for the good, our world has indeed been all about value. What gives? This post reviews our correlation to value, delving into a few periods when it became the dominant part of our process. We find that when value dominates, it has usually been in bubble periods of irrational losses for value (and in their more pleasant aftermaths).

Tax Aware

“The Tax Benefits of Separating Alpha from Beta” Wins the 2020 Graham and Dodd Top Paper Award

In this paper, we tackle a different practical question: In a world dominated by tax-agnostic managers, how can investors design their tax-agnostic strategy allocations to improve the tax efficiency of their overall investment portfolios?

Value

A Gut Punch

Sure, the last nearly three years have hurt, but at least the explanation was straightforward. A core part of our process, value, suffered. So when value rebounds, we will too, right? Well, not necessarily. To be clear, if value makes a prolonged major recovery, we certainly believe we will as well, but over short periods that doesn’t have to happen. Unfortunately, this is what we have experienced since the end of October. Regardless, it does not change my view one drop that going forward multi-factor investing is a darn good bet in a world that needs some darn good bets.

Macroeconomics

It’s Not a Bound; It’s an Opinion

In the second paper of our “Bonds Today” series, we review the popular belief that bond yields are too close to zero to fall much further and then explain why we disagree.

Asset Allocation

Don’t Hate the Asset; Hate the Constraint

What role do bonds play in a portfolio today? We explain why it all depends on investors’ ability to own them in a capital efficient way.

Asset Allocation

2020 Capital Market Assumptions for Major Asset Classes (Supplemental Estimates as of March 31, 2020)

This supplement provides a special update to our estimates of medium-term (5- to 10-year) expected returns for major asset classes. This update reflects the large changes in prices for many asset classes due to the impact of COVID-19 in Q1 2020.

Arbitrage

Meet the Expert: Todd Pulvino on Diversified Arbitrage

Todd Pulvino, Principal of CNH Partners, an affiliate of AQR, explains what Diversified Arbitrage strategies are and how they tend do perform during different economic cycles.

Alternative Investing

Banter Is Coming

We have a lot of great topics and special guests coming up on season two of The Curious Investor.

Factor/Style Investing

More Superstar Investors: Francisco Garcia Parames

We examine the track record of Spanish investor Francisco Garcia Parames, leading Portfolio Manager of Bestinver Asset Management, and find that a large part of his success is attributable to patient exposure to well-rewarded factor premia.

Factor/Style Investing

More Superstar Investors: Neil Woodford and Terry Smith

We examine the track records of two renowned U.K. fund managers: Neil Woodford and Terry Smith and find that a large part of their long-term success is due to patient exposure to well-rewarded factor premia.