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Holdings Data, Security Returns, and the Selection of Superior Mutual Funds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2011

Edwin J. Elton ,
Martin J. Gruber  and
Christopher R. Blake
Edwin J. Elton
Affiliation:
New York University, Stern School of Business, 44 W. 4th St., Ste. 9-190, New York, NY 10012. eelton@stern.nyu.edu
Martin J. Gruber
Affiliation:
New York University, Stern School of Business, 44 W. 4th St., Ste. 9-190, New York, NY 10012. mgruber@stern.nyu.edu
Christopher R. Blake
Affiliation:
Fordham University, Graduate School of Business, 113 W. 60th St., NewYork, NY 10023. cblake@fordham.edu
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Abstract

In this paper we show that selecting mutual funds using alpha computed from a fund’s holdings and security betas produces better future alphas than selecting funds using alpha computed from a time-series regression on fund returns. This is true whether future alphas are computed using holdings and security betas or a time-series regression on fund returns. Furthermore, we show that the more frequently the holdings data are available, the greater the benefit. This has major implications for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent ruling on the frequency of holdings disclosure and the information plan sponsors should collect from portfolio managers. We also explore the effect of conditioning betas on macroeconomic variables as suggested by Ferson and Schadt (1996) to identify superior-performing mutual funds as well as the alternative way of employing holdings data proposed by Grinblatt and Titman (1993).

Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis , Volume 46 , Issue 2 , April 2011 , pp. 341 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington 2011

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