The quant cycle

Factors in asset pricing models exhibit cyclical behavior as they offer a premium in the long run while going through bull and bear phases in the short run. In our research, we investigated the possible explanation to these cyclical dynamics, focusing mainly on value, quality, momentum and low-risk factors and an equally-weighted multi-factor portfolio.

From a rational asset-pricing perspective, factor premiums are seen as risk premiums, reflecting rewards for certain macroeconomic risks. This would imply that factor performance is related to the business cycle. But many studies have failed to establish a robust empirical link between the two.¹ Indeed, results from our study also illustrated the tenuous nature of this relationship.

In general, what we found was that the multi-factor portfolio had similar returns in contrasting macroeconomic conditions, i.e. expansions versus recessions; inflationary versus non-inflationary; and high ISM purchasing managers’ index (PMI) versus low ISM PMI.

The outcome varied slightly from a single-factor perspective. For example, we observed what we would characterize as strong returns from the momentum factor during inflationary periods, while the low-risk factor struggled, consistent with its known ‘bond-like’ properties.² Meanwhile, the value and quality factors appeared largely immune to both inflationary and non-inflationary conditions.

We also took into account the Baker and Wurgler investor sentiment index, a popular sentiment indicator in academic literature.³ We established that the returns for the value, quality and low-risk factors were strong when investor sentiment was positive, and weak when investor sentiment was negative. Only the momentum factor appeared to be resilient to the various sentiment states.

Perhaps the difficulty in establishing a relationship between macroeconomic risks and factor premiums lies in the flawed notion that factor premiums are risk premiums. If the source of factor premiums is indeed behavioral, then this would explain why the Baker and Wurgler sentiment index appears to be more effective at distinguishing between high and low factor returns. However, even this indicator is only able to pick up a small portion of the much larger time variation in factor returns.

In our view, the cyclicality in factor returns is driven by sentiment which can best be inferred directly from factor returns. In other words, our premise is that factors essentially follow their own behavioral cycle, and although other macroeconomic and behavioral indicators may pick up some of these dynamics, the full picture can only be uncovered by studying factors themselves.

In our study, we determined the quant cycle by qualitatively identifying peaks and troughs that correspond to bull and bear markets in factor returns. Following this approach, we identified a cycle consisting of a normal stage, which prevails about two-thirds of the time, punctuated with occasional large value drawdowns, which tend to be followed by subsequent reversals.

We found that the value drawdowns were caused either by growth rallies or value crashes that occurred roughly once every ten years, typically lasting about two years. These were usually followed by sharp reversals, which were characterized either by a crash of the growth stocks that outperformed strongly in the previous stage, or a strong recovery rally in the stocks that underperformed in the preceding phase. Our historical definition of the quant cycle is depicted in Figure 1.

During the normal stage, we observed that all factors delivered solid positive average returns, typically above their long-term average premiums. Luckily for multi-factor investors, this stage prevailed about two-thirds of the time. However, the relative peace and quiet of the normal period was disturbed by events that unfolded during the remaining one-third.

We witnessed that the growth rallies were characterized by large negative returns for value and large positive returns for momentum. This clearly illustrates how the two factors typically diversify so well with each other during these extreme phases. Low-risk typically took a hit and quality usually performed well in this phase, although not in every instance for both factors. Altogether, the multi-factor approach delivered a roughly flat return on average during growth rallies.

Our sample period only contained one value crash, namely the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. We saw that the factor performance was remarkably similar to the one observed in growth rallies, with negative returns for value and low-risk and positive returns for momentum. Based on this single observation, quality seemingly fared better during value crashes. This resulted in a small positive return for the multi-factor portfolio.

We also picked up two types of reversals: bear and bull. Bear reversals were distinguished by large positive returns for value due to a growth crash. They also tended to be highly favorable for quality, momentum and low-risk. Given that all the factors tended to be effective during these periods, we noticed that the multi-factor mix also delivered strong returns.
By contrast, bull reversals were characterized by large negative returns for momentum due to a rally in stocks with poor momentum. There were also large negative returns for quality and mixed results for value and low-risk. From a multi-factor perspective, we saw that bull reversals presented much tougher challenges than bear reversals.

Thus, we conclude that investors should focus their efforts on better understanding the quant cycle as implied by the factors, rather than adhering to traditional frameworks. We believe this can helpful in contextualizing the cyclical dynamics of factors. It can provide investors with the basis to formulate a multi-year outlook, by providing insight on how the quant cycle could potentially unfold based on the prevalent market environment. The model can also give them a frame of reference to examine the robustness of new alpha factors across the various stages of the cycle.