Cross-Sectional Stock Return Predictability in China

Cross-sectional stock return predictability has always been an intriguing issue for the researchers as it relates to a number of resilient puzzles in finance. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis on the stock return predictability in China form January 1994 to March 2011 by employing both portfolio method and cross-sectional regressions. We find strong predictive power of size, price, book-to-market ratio, cash-flow-to-price ratio, and earnings-to-price ratio. The total as well as idiosyncratic volatility are also consistent stock return predictors in China. The results exist for stocks listed in Shanghai Stock Exchange as well as Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Unlike evidence for the other markets (e.g. U.S), the momentum fails to qualify as a useful predictor in the portfolio method. It is only when used with other predictors that it exhibits predictive power for the Chinese stocks. Overall, the variables related to cheapness of stocks such as book-to-market ratio and cash-flow-to-price ratio demonstrate reliable forecast power, but earnings-to-price ratio is less reliable.