Journal of Investment Strategies

Risk.net

Smaller drawdowns, higher average and risk-adjusted returns for equity portfolios, using options and power-log optimization based on a behavioral model of investor preferences

Jivendra K. Kale and Tee Lim

  • Power-log utility optimization algorithm based on a behavioral model of investor preferences.
  • Optimal portfolios contain the S&P 500 index, a Treasury, and either a call or a put index option overlay.
  • All optimal portfolios have positively skewed returns, which are preferred by investors, in contrast to the negative skewness of S&P 500 index returns.
  • All optimal portfolios have higher risk-adjusted returns than the S&P 500 index.
  • Except for extremely conservative optimal portfolios, all optimal portfolios containing the call option also have higher expected returns than the S&P 500 index, and optimal portfolios containing the put option.

We use a power-log utility optimization algorithm based on a behavioral model of investor preferences, along with either a call or a put option overlay, to reverse the negative skewness of monthly Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) index returns and to produce portfolios with smaller drawdowns and far higher risk-adjusted returns than the S&P 500 index. All the optimal portfolios have positively skewed returns, which are preferred by investors. Optimal portfolios containing the call have higher average returns than the S&P 500 index as well as much higher average and risk-adjusted returns than portfolios containing the put, except for the most conservative portfolios.

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