MyAQR Education Strategies About Us JOURNAL ARTICLE Portfolio Protection? It’s a Long (Term) Story… April 23, 2020 - Nicholas McQuinn Ashwin Thapar Daniel Villalon Topics - Portfolio Risk and Performance Alternative Investing Portfolio Construction Asset Allocation Portfolio Protection? It’s a Long (Term) Story… AQR Q2 2020 Alternative Thinking Recent headlines focus on option-buying strategies and their extraordinary performance in March, usually leaving out their generally high long-term cost. The tail insurance strategies with the largest wins in crash months are likely ones that in good times lose all or most capital allocated to them, perhaps many times over. Investors have a natural urge to protect their portfolios from sudden crashes like the one we’ve seen recently. We argue that they should instead focus on bad outcomes that unfold over longer periods, as those tend to be more detrimental to the long-term goal of wealth accumulation. We show that options-based hedging can be effective over shorter periods but tends to weaken over time. In contrast, risk-mitigating and diversifying strategies such as defensive equities, risk parity, alternative risk premia, and trend-following have more consistently added value over the horizons that matter most — as well as on average. This latter point suggests a crucial advantage for these strategies: that unlike options-based hedging, it’s never “too late” to consider diversifying into them. Published In The Journal of Portfolio Management Download Related Thinking Chasing Your Own Tail (Risk), Revisited White Paper - November 19, 2019 Pathetic Protection: The Elusive Benefits of Protective Puts Journal Article - February 24, 2017 It Was the Worst of Times: Diversification During a Century of Drawdowns Alternative Thinking - September 26, 2018 Good Strategies for Tough Times Alternative Thinking - 3Q 2015 Diversify or Hedge? Podcast - July 10, 2019 This document has been provided to you solely for information purposes and does not constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer or any advice or recommendation to purchase any securities or other financial instruments and may not be construed as such. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The information contained herein is only as current as of the date indicated, and may be superseded by subsequent market events or for other reasons. Neither the author nor AQR undertakes to advise you of any changes in the views expressed herein. Broad-based securities indices are unmanaged and are not subject to fees and expenses typically associated with managed accounts or investment funds. Investments cannot be made directly in an index. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Hypothetical performance results (e.g., quantitative backtests) have many inherent limitations, some of which, but not all, are described herein. No representation is being made that any fund or account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown herein. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently realized by any particular trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points that can adversely affect actual trading results. The hypothetical performance results contained herein represent the application of the quantitative models as currently in effect on the date first written above and there can be no assurance that the models will remain the same in the future or that an application of the current models in the future will produce similar results because the relevant market and economic conditions that prevailed during the hypothetical performance period will not necessarily recur. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results, all of which can adversely affect actual trading results. Discounting factors may be applied to reduce suspected anomalies. This backtest’s return, for this period, may vary depending on the date it is run. Hypothetical performance results are presented for illustrative purposes only. In addition, our transaction cost assumptions utilized in backtests, where noted, are based on AQR Capital Management, LLC’s, (“AQR”)’s historical realized transaction costs and market data. Certain of the assumptions have been made for modeling purposes and are unlikely to be realized. No representation or warranty is made as to the reasonableness of the assumptions made or that all assumptions used in achieving the returns have been stated or fully considered. Changes in the assumptions may have a material impact on the hypothetical returns presented. Actual advisory fees for products offering this strategy may vary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of AQR Capital Management, LLC, its affiliates or its employees. This information is not intended to, and does not relate specifically to any investment strategy or product that AQR offers. It is being provided merely to provide a framework to assist in the implementation of an investor’s own analysis and an investor’s own view on the topic discussed herein. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission from AQR. Education Featured Thinking Research Cliff's Perspectives Data Sets Learning Center Quick Clips Podcasts Strategies Overview Equities Fixed Income Alternatives ESG Tax-Aware Investment Vehicles About Us Our Firm News Careers Academic Engagement Contact Us MyAQR Log In Register Privacy Policy Social Media Disclaimers Terms of Use Disability Accommodation for Applicants Equal Opportunity Employer ©2021 AQR Capital Management, LLC. All rights reserved.