Feature selection for portfolio optimization

• Published in: Annals of operations research 2017-09, Vol.256 (1), p.21-40
• Main Authors: Bjerring, Thomas Trier, Ross, Omri, Weissensteiner, Alex
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Astronomical models; Business and Management; Combinatorics; Covariance matrix; Economic models; Management science; Methods; Operations research; Operations Research/Decision Theory; Optimization; Optimization theory; Parameter estimation; Portfolio management; S.i.: Apmod 2014; Theory of Computation; Universe
• ISSN: 0254-5330; 1572-9338
• DOI: 10.1007/s10479-016-2155-y

Most portfolio selection rules based on the sample mean and covariance matrix perform poorly out-of-sample. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence that such optimization rules are not able to beat simple rules of thumb, such as 1/N. Parameter uncertainty has been identified as one major reason for these findings. A strand of literature addresses this problem by improving the parameter estimation and/or by relying on more robust portfolio selection methods. Independent of the chosen portfolio selection rule, we propose using feature selection first in order to reduce the asset menu. While most of the diversification benefits are preserved, the parameter estimation problem is alleviated. We conduct out-of-sample back-tests to show that in most cases different well-established portfolio selection rules applied on the reduced asset universe are able to improve alpha relative to different prominent factor models.