Skip to main content
Log in

Do implied volatilities predict stock returns?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Asset Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using a complete sample of US equity options, we find a positive, highly significant relationship between stock returns and lagged implied volatilities. The results are robust after controlling for a number of factors such as firm size, market valuation, analyst recommendations and different levels of implied volatility. Lagged historical volatility is – in contrast to the corresponding implied volatility – not relevant for stock returns. We find considerable time variation in the relationship between lagged implied volatility and stock returns.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ang, A., Hodrick, R. J., Xing, Y. and Zhang, X. (2006) The cross-section of volatility and expected returns. The Journal of Finance 61: 259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. and Wurgler, J. (2000) The equity share in new issues and aggregate stock returns. Journal of Finance 55: 2219–2257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bali, T. G., Cakici, N., Yan, X. and Zhang, Z. (2005) Does idiosyncratic risk really matter? Journal of Finance 60: 905–929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. (1987) Stock returns and the term structure. Journal of Financial Economics 18: 373–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. and Shiller, R. (1988) The dividend-price ratio and expectations of future dividends and discount factors. Review of Financial Studies 1: 195–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carhart, M. (1997) On persistence in mutual fund performance. Journal of Finance 52: 57–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fama, E. and French, K. (1989) Business conditions and expected returns on stocks and bonds. Journal of Financial Economics 19: 3–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fama, E. and French, K. (1993) Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds. Journal of Financial Economics 33: 3–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fama, E. and Schwert, G. (1977) Asset returns and inflation. Journal of Financial Economics 5: 115–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frees, E. W. (2004) Longitudinal and Panel Data. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • French, K., Schwert, G. and Stambaugh, R. (1987) Expected stock returns and volatility. Journal of Financial Economics 19: 293–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goyal, A. and Santa-Clara, P. (2003) Idiosyncratic risk matters! Journal of Finance 58: 975–1007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goyal, A. and Welch, I. (2003) Predicting the equity premium with dividend ratios. Management Science 49: 639–654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kothari, S. and Shanken, J. (1997) Book-to-market, dividend yield, and expected market returns: A time series analysis. Journal of Financial Economics 44: 169–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamont, O. (1998) Earnings and expected returns. Journal of Finance 53: 1563–1587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C., Myers, J. and Swaminathan, B. (1999) What is the intrinsic value of the Dow. Journal of Finance 54: 1639–1742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lettau, M. and Ludvigson, S. (2001) Consumption, aggregate wealth, and expected stock returns. Journal of Finance 56: 815–849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Optionmetrics. (2005) Ivy DB: File and data reference manual, version 2.5.

  • Pontiff, J. and Schall, L. (1998) Book-to-market as a predictor of market returns. Journal of Financial Economics 49: 141–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stambaugh, R. (1999) Predictive regressions. Journal of Financial Economics 54: 315–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the editor, an anonymous reviewer, Sebastien Betermier, Peter Feldhütter, Thomas Gilbert, Sara Holland, Peter Tind Larsen, Miguel Palacios, Hari Phatak and David Skovmand for helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Verhofen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ammann, M., Verhofen, M. & Süss, S. Do implied volatilities predict stock returns?. J Asset Manag 10, 222–234 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/jam.2009.14

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jam.2009.14

Keywords

Navigation