Diversification versus Hedging II
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
In our last research note (read?Diversification versus Hedging), we explored creating a diversification strategy by selecting funds that exhibit negative downside betas to the S&P 500. We learned that downside betas are useful metrics for evaluating funds, but need to be viewed carefully. If too negative, then these funds essentially represent tail risk hedges, which are less attractive as investors can simply reduce their equity exposure to achieve the same effect.
In contrast, funds with only moderately negative downside betas are more useful for portfolio construction as they make money when stocks lose, but can also produce positive returns when stocks rise, at least theoretically. Bonds exhibited these unique characteristics for the better part of the last four decades until central banks started rising interest rates to combat inflation in 2022, which resulted in poor performance of the traditional 60-40 equity-bond portfolio.
In this research note, we will continue to explore creating a diversification strategy by selecting funds primarily based on their downside betas.
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