Conditional Dynamics and the Multihorizon Risk-Return Tradeoff

Working Paper: NBER ID: w25361

Authors: Mikhail Chernov; Lars A. Lochstoer; Stig R. H. Lundeby

Abstract: We propose testing asset-pricing models using multi-horizon returns (MHR). MHR effectively generate a new set of test assets that are endogenous to the model and that identify a broad set of possible conditional misspecifications. We apply MHR-based testing to prominent linear factor models and show that these models typically do a poor job of pricing longer-horizon returns, with pricing errors of similar magnitude as the risk premiums they were designed to explain. We trace the errors to the conditional factor dynamics. Explicitly incorporating factor timing in the models often makes mispricing worse, posing a challenge for future research.

Keywords: asset pricing; multihorizon returns; conditional dynamics

JEL Codes: C51; G12


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
Traditional linear factor models (C38)Poor performance in pricing longer-horizon returns (G19)
Pricing errors (D49)Risk premiums (G19)
Incorporating conditional factor dynamics (C69)Exacerbation of mispricing (G19)
Models expected to price factors at multiple horizons (C22)Fail to do so (Y60)
MHR-based test (C52)Valuable tool for future research (C90)

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