Stock returns in Islamic and conventional banks

This study aims to explore empirically the determinants of stock return in a comparative context between Islamic and conventional banks.

The analysis of the determinants of stock returns is carried out through a panel data model. This study covers 14 Islamic banks and 30 conventional banks in the MENA countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) during 10 years, from 2004 to 2014.

The empirical results show that the market risk has a positive impact on market profitability of banks except for the small-medium (SM) and big-high (BH) portfolio for the capital asset pricing model and Fama and French models. The risk associated with the size (Small [market capitalization] Minus Big: SMB) has a positive impact on small banks and a negative impact on banks of big sizes. Finally, the risk related to the market value (High [book-to-market ratio] Minus Low: HML) has a positive impact on both small and large banks.

The answer to the question of explanatory factors for stock market returns allows managers to measure the cost of capital and thus choose the most appropriate form of financing and therefore evaluate the possibility of investing in a particular bank.