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SQM Research Ratings Update
November 2020
Our Ratings & Fund Data Service covers Sector Reviews, Fund research & Quantitative analysis for about 9000 funds. For more information contact us today! Get the right information & insightful advice first from SQM Research.  To subscribe to our Ratings and Funds Data Service, click HERE.
 

A Method for Measuring Risk-Adjusted Alpha

(or... The benchmark you use when you don't have a benchmark)
 
by Rob da Silva, Head of Research

Assessing a Fund’s performance, both nominal and risk-adjusted, has a variety of challenges. This notes briefly opines on one of them – judging performance when there is a significant mismatch between the risk profile of the Fund and the risk profile of the “benchmark” or “performance target”.
 
Fund Managers choose benchmarks or performance targets that are put forward as a guidepost for investors to judge whether or not the Manager is doing a “good” job. Whether or not there is selection bias in this process is not the subject of this note (although it is an interesting topic).
 
Difficulties arise with the effectiveness of a benchmark when there are large structural differences between it and the Fund being assessed. These differences may arise with the constituents of a benchmark, their weights, sector breakdowns or any number of structural metrics. For example, measuring a large-cap equity fund against a micro-cap index would generally not be seen as valid or meaningful. This is an extreme example that is thankfully not often seen. What is more often seen are differences that range from minor (and not really statistically significant) to more nuanced but meaningful in impact. A common example of the latter is when a small-cap Fund that typically has little or no resource exposure uses the Small Ordinaries Index as its benchmark. There are a large number of small cap funds that consist largely, or entirely, of industrial stocks, not resources. Choosing the Small Ordinaries Index can set the bar pretty low in terms of outperformance degree-of-difficulty. The chart below shows a pretty substantial gap between the Small Ordinaries and the Small Industrials.

 

Equally, or possibly more, difficult are situations where the risk/return profile of the Fund and its benchmark are far apart. The most common examples of this are risky asset class funds (e.g. equities or property) that are compared to benchmarks or “performance targets” that are virtually risk-free such as cash, banks bills or CPI.
 
For example, it is not uncommon for an absolute return equity fund to benchmark itself to the RBA Cash Rate. While there are arguments in favour of such an arrangement, the obvious and glaring problem is comparing a fund with say, 10 to 15% volatility to a benchmark with zero volatility. Apples and oranges anyone?
 
One counter to this problem is to put a risk premium on the benchmark to make it more of a level playing field. This swaps one problem for another. The Manager might say that Cash +4% is a hurdle that accurately reflects the risk profile of the Fund. Your sceptical answer might be “says who?”. Just because the Manager says its right doesn’t make it so. You will naturally need to try to figure out for yourself what is the right risk premium that reflects the risks inherent in the Fund.
 
There are multiple methods to try and triangulate an answer to this question. Here we present one method that is relatively straightforward in its theory and calculation. We don’t pretend it’s the only, or best method. It is just one more interesting tool.
 
It basically involves comparing the Fund to a statistically regressed line-of-best-fit for “market” risk and return. This “market” risk and return we will call the Capital Market Line (CML). It is a collection of traditional asset classes that span right across the risk spectrum from cash (low risk) to small caps (high risk).
 
The linear regression lines that fits this collection of risk/return points represents a kind of “market price of risk” i.e. how much return should you expect for a certain amount of risk (volatility).
 
This means that the vertical distance from the Fund’s “dot” to the CML represents the risk-adjusted alpha, or value added over and above the risk being taken (as measured by volatility).
 
Using this method in the chart below shows that the (un-named) Australian equity fund returned 7.78% p.a. against a CML “market” expectation of 6.70% return to compensate for a volatility of 18%. Thus, a risk-adjusted alpha of +1.08% p.a.
 
While this method is not perfect, its attraction is that it can be used for any fund in any market or mix of markets as it is benchmark and asset class agnostic.




Mid to Large Cap AEQ Fund
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 7.7834 3.9894
Model 6.7017 6.1768
Alpha to CML 1.0817 -2.1874

The following are a handful of examples across various types and classes of funds to illustrate the point.



Managed Futures
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual -2.9938 -1.9094
Model 4.7838 5.5553
Alpha to CML -7.7777 -7.4647



 Managed Futures
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 1.6766 -2.0892
Model 4.8606 5.3593
Alpha to CML -3.1840 -7.4485



High Yield Credit
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 8.4004 3.7226
Model 4.4392 4.7909
Alpha to CML 3.9612 -1.0683



Event-Driven Hedge Fund
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 2.4274 4.6376
Model 5.6353 5.6043
Alpha to CML -3.2079 -0.9667



Australian Fixed Income
  Capital
Market Line
 
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 3.3305 3.0711
Model 3.5930 4.1370
Alpha to CML -0.2625 -1.0658



Mortgage Trust (low volatility but not zero risk)
  Capital Market Line  
Intercept 3.3017  
Slope 0.1852  
  Fund Peer Avg
Actual 5.2214 3.9882
Model 3.3127 3.3318
Alpha to CML 1.9087 0.6565
 


 
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SQM Research's Top 5 SQM Rated Funds* - 31 October 2020

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* Any Funds in this table that have international investments will have different hedging patterns, from hedged to unhedged or variable hedging. This may have an impact on fund returns. Please refer to the Fund's product disclosure statement for details.

SQM Research's Top 50 ETFs - 31 October 2020
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SQM Research's Market Benchmarks - 31 October 2020

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Ratings Table
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For further information: 
Rob da Silva - Head of Research, SQM Research - Tel: (02) 9220 4606   Email: rob@sqmresearch.com.au
Louis Christopher - Managing Director, SQM Research - Tel: (02) 9220 4666  Email: louis@sqmresearch.com.au

 
About SQM Research 
SQM Research is an independent property advisory, ratings and forecasting research 
house which specialises in providing accurate property related advice, research and data to financial institutions, property developers and real estate investors. For more information please visit www.sqmresearch.com.au

 
Research Methodology
In general, the assessment approach adopted by SQM Research incorporates a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques to assess property investment products. Information generated is passed through the SQM Research assessment model at the completion of the assessment process. The assessment model generates a product score, which correlates to a specific star rating (out of a maximum of five stars). Each star rating covers a scoring range, allowing products to be ranked within quarter star increments.
 Following are descriptions for each of the star ratings, which have been developed as a guide for dealer group research teams and investment committees:
4.5 stars and above - Outstanding. Highly suitable for inclusion on APLs.
4.25 stars - Superior. Suitable for inclusion on most APLs.
4 stars - Superior. Suitable for inclusion on most APLs.
3.75 stars - Favourable. Consider for APL inclusion.
3.5 stars - Acceptable. Consider for APL inclusion.
3.25 stars - Caution required. Not suitable for APLs.
3 stars - Strong caution required. Not suitable for APLs.
Below 3 stars – Avoid or redeem. Not suitable for APLs.
Hold - Rating is suspended until SQM Research receives further information. A rating is typically put on hold for a period of two days to four weeks.
Withdrawn - Rating no longer applies. Significant issues have arisen since the last report date. Investors should consider avoiding or redeeming units in the fund..
 * The definitions above are not all encompassing and not all individual items mentioned will necessarily be relevant to the rated Fund. Users should read the current rating report for a comprehensive assessment.


DISCLAIMER
The rating contained in this document is issued by SQM Research Pty Ltd ABN 93 122 592 036. SQM Research is an investment research firm that undertakes research on investment products exclusively for its wholesale clients, utilising a proprietary review and star rating system. The SQM Research star rating system is of a general nature and does not take into account the particular circumstances or needs of any specific person. The rating may be subject to change at any time. Only licensed financial advisers may use the SQM Research star rating system in determining whether an investment is appropriate to a person’s particular circumstances or needs. You should read the product disclosure statement and consult a licensed financial adviser before making an investment decision in relation to this investment product. SQM Research receives a fee from the Fund Manager for the research and rating of the managed investment scheme.
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