Research Article

MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS

Volume: 26 Number: 1 January 24, 2025
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MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS

Abstract

This work examines cross-sectional stock returns with machine learning models using global stock market data. By calculating 63 firm level characteristics, we find that our model outperforms linear models in terms of both economic and statistical performance. Shallow models, such as gradient boosted decision trees, provides more consistent and reliable performance compared to deeper ones in the context of asset pricing, likely due to a low signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to parameters. The results revealed that machine learning models can be developed into effective portfolios, complexity is welcomed when it enhances performance such as Sharpe ratios. Taken together, these results demonstrate the relative importance of machine learning for a modern financial system, and specifically, the ability to synthesize information from various characteristics that impact stock returns. This study challenges traditional notions of a preference for parsimony and, based on certain degrees of complexity, demonstrates strategic economic gains.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Finance

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 24, 2025

Submission Date

August 16, 2024

Acceptance Date

September 6, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 26 Number: 1

APA
Kurucan, A. S., & Hepşen, A. (2025). MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 26(1), 315-338. https://doi.org/10.31671/doujournal.1534375
AMA
1.Kurucan AS, Hepşen A. MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi. 2025;26(1):315-338. doi:10.31671/doujournal.1534375
Chicago
Kurucan, Ahmet Salih, and Ali Hepşen. 2025. “MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS”. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi 26 (1): 315-38. https://doi.org/10.31671/doujournal.1534375.
EndNote
Kurucan AS, Hepşen A (January 1, 2025) MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi 26 1 315–338.
IEEE
[1]A. S. Kurucan and A. Hepşen, “MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS”, Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 315–338, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.31671/doujournal.1534375.
ISNAD
Kurucan, Ahmet Salih - Hepşen, Ali. “MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS”. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi 26/1 (January 1, 2025): 315-338. https://doi.org/10.31671/doujournal.1534375.
JAMA
1.Kurucan AS, Hepşen A. MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi. 2025;26:315–338.
MLA
Kurucan, Ahmet Salih, and Ali Hepşen. “MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS”. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 1, Jan. 2025, pp. 315-38, doi:10.31671/doujournal.1534375.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Salih Kurucan, Ali Hepşen. MACHINE LEARNING FOR CROSS-SECTIONAL RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi. 2025 Jan. 1;26(1):315-38. doi:10.31671/doujournal.1534375