Previous work shows that average returns on common stocks are related to firm characteristics like size, earnings/price, cashflow/price, book-to-market equity, past sales growth, long-term past return, and short term past return. Because these patterns in average returns apparently are not explained by the CAPM, they are called anomalies. We find that, except for the continuation of short-term returns, the anomalies largely disappear in a three-factor model. Our results are consistent with rational ICAPM or APT asset pricing, but we also consider irrational pricing and data problems as possible explanations.

ABSTRACT Kothari, Shanken, and Sloan (1995) claim that β s from annual returns produce a stronger positive relation between β and average return than β s from monthly returns. They also contend that the relation between average return and book‐to‐market equity (BE/ME) is seriously exaggerated by survivor bias. We argue that survivor bias does not explain the relation between BE/ME and average return. We also show that annual and monthly β s produce the same inferences about the β premium. Our main point on the β premium is, however, more basic. It cannot save the Capital asset pricing model (CAPM), given the evidence that β alone cannot explain expected return.

Kothari, Shanken, and Sloan (1995) claim that βs from annual returns produce a stronger positive relation between β and average return than βs from monthly returns. They also contend that the relation between average return and book-to-market equity (BE/ME) is seriously exaggerated by survivor bias. We argue that survivor bias does not explain the relation between BE/ME and average return. We also show that annual and monthly βs produce the same inferences about the β premium. Our main point on the β premium is, however, more basic. It cannot save the Capital asset pricing model (CAPM), given the evidence that β alone cannot explain expected return.

Previous work shows that average returns on common stocks are related to firm characteristics like size, earnings/price, cash flow/price, book-to-market equity, past sales growth, long-term past return, and short-term past return. Because these patterns in average returns apparently are not explained by the capital asset pricing model, (CAPM), they are called anomalies. The authors find that, except for the continuation of short-term returns, the anomalies largely disappear in a three-factor model. Their results are consistent with rational intertemporal CAPM or arbitrage pricing theory asset pricing but the authors also consider irrational pricing and data problems as possible explanations.

Kothari, Shanken, and Sloan (1995) claim that betas from annual returns produce a stronger positive relation between beta and average return than betas from monthly returns. They also contend that the relation between average return and book-to-market equity (BE/ME) is seriously exaggerated by survivor bias. We argue that survivor bias does not explain the relation between BE/ME and average return. We also show that annual and monthly betas produce the same inferences about the beta premium. Our main point on the beta premium is, however, more basic. It cannot save the Capital asset pricing model (CAPM), given the evidence that beta alone cannot explain expected return.

ABSTRACT Previous work shows that average returns on common stocks are related to firm characteristics like size, earnings/price, cash flow/price, book‐to‐market equity, past sales growth, long‐term past return, and short‐term past return. Because these patterns in average returns apparently are not explained by the CAPM, they are called anomalies. We find that, except for the continuation of short‐term returns, the anomalies largely disappear in a three‐factor model. Our results are consistent with rational ICAPM or APT asset pricing, but we also consider irrational pricing and data problems as possible explanations.