Factor Momentum and the Momentum Factor∗
Factor Momentum and the Momentum Factor∗ Sina Ehsaniy Juhani Linnainmaaz First draft: March 2017 This draft: June 2019 Abstract Momentum in individual stock returns emanates from momentum in factor returns. Most factors are positively autocorrelated: the average factor earns a monthly return of 1 basis point following a year of losses and 53 basis points following a positive year. Factor momentum explains all forms of individual stock momentum. Stock momentum strategies indirectly time factors: they profit when the factors remain autocorrelated, and crash when these autocorrelations break down. Our key result is that momentum is not a distinct risk factor; it aggregates the autocorrelations found in all other factors. JEL classification: G11, G12, G40 Keywords: Factors; Anomalies; Momentum ∗We thank Huaizhi Chen (discussant), Ing-Haw Cheng, John Cochrane, Amit Goyal, Mark Grinblatt, Jon Lewellen, Paulo Maio (discussant), Stefan Nagel (editor), Sheridan Titman, Ivo Welch, and Guofu Zhou, the associate editor, and the two anonymous referees for valuable comments. We are grateful for the feedback by the conference and seminar participants at Washington University in St. Louis, DePaul University, Ohio State University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of New South Wales, Baruch College, University of Texas{Rio Grande Valley, Clemson University, Northern Illinois University, Monash University, La Trobe University, Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney, UBS Sydney, University of California{Riverside, University of Oxford, Northern Trust Asset Management, the 2018 Mark Grinblatt Retirement Conference at UCLA, the 2018 Midwest Finance Association meetings, and the 2019 Western Finance Association meetings. ySchool of Business, Northern Illinois University.
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