CAN ONE OUTPERFORM THE MARKET BY INVESTING IN SMALL AND

Abstract:

This study deals with one of the efficient market hypothesis’ anomaly. The research aims at proving the

existence of a size anomaly by answering the question: can you outperform the market by investing in

small and mid caps? It is in fact a questioning of the well-know efficient market hypothesis (EMH). We

investigate the size effect in the situation of a passive strategy with different indices (Russell Indices and

S&P Indices) from 1995 to 2005.

The introduction gives to the reader the background he needs to understand the methodology and the

approach of the issue by the authors. Key concepts are defined such as EMH, passive strategy.

The second part exposes the methodology the authors choose and the methodology of exploited indices.

The research consist on measuring the risk adjusting excess returns by comparing the market index

return (S&P 500 or Russell 3000) and the Small and Mid Caps indices (S&P Small Cap 600, S&P Mid

Cap 400, Russell Mid Cap and Russell 2000) over the period. Indeed the methodology of indices is

exposing in details to understand in which extent the study can be influence by the construction of

indices.

Then in part 3 the authors describe theories that are possible explanations for the size effect. Then it is

understandable that the size anomaly is the result of a set of factors that generate abnormal returns.

These theories help the authors to come up with a model that gives an overview of the research.

After having explained their research method and reveal their empirical findings. The authors

demonstrate that excess returns can be earned by investing in small and mid caps indices even after

controlling for risk. The risk adjusting excess returns their findings can potentially be explained by the

other factors depicted in the theoretical part. E/P ratios, Trading Costs, January effect, Overreaction are

possible reasons to explain the size anomaly. They also find an instability and/or reversal of the size

effect consistent with one of the theories. However the authors find data with non statistic significance,

so I accept the null hypothesis that the excess returns of small and mid caps indices are equal to zero.

The paper ends with a discussion about the limitations of the study and possible further researches. The

authors conclude that even if the existence of a size effect is obvious for some years and horizons of

investment, the passive strategy appears to be an unsuited method to take advantage of the small effect

since the results reject the null hypothesis. The authors clarify the fact that before investing in small and

mid caps, one has to be aware of all the factors that can influence his investment (beside risk) because

the size effect is a set of factors.

Key words: Efficient Market Hypothesis, Abnormal returns, Size effect (anomaly), Passive strategy,

Market Index, S&P indices, Russell indices