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Smart Beta Compass

Investor Behaviour

A snapshot of the cross-sectional patterns of institutional equity flows and holdings.

Institutional Style Positioning

The analysis covers 10 style dimensions: Market Beta, Idiosyncratic Volatility (further referred to as Idiosyncratic Beta), Dividend Yield, Inflation Exposure, Value/Growth, Relative Value to History, Relative Value to Industry, Low Size (Small Caps), Price Momentum, and Relative Efficiency (further referred to as Relative Quality). See page 21 for full style definitions.

5 min read

Investor Flows Attempt to Pare Back Positioning to Overweight Styles

Positioning in Market Beta and Relative Quality stocks are significantly overweight (90+ percentile in comparison to historical data) at the end of Q1. Following Q1 market pull back, flows accelerated into defensive high Dividend Yield and Relative Value stocks. Along with small caps, dividends and value remain the most underweight style exposures (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Institutional Style Positioning

(Quarter End)

Institutional Style Positioning (Quarter End)

Trend Flows

In addition to the latest investor positioning in each of the significant style dimensions, the active flows trend can provide further context on investor sentiment.

Below we analyse the trend in active flows across two time series: the daily change in 60-day trend flows over the past year and the daily change in 20-day trend flows over the past quarter. Each of the charts provides expanded context on the trend of investor flows leading up to the quarter-end positioning.

The 60-day trend flows experienced relative style concentration in Q1, small-cap stocks finally consolidating back to a relatively modest 20- and 60-day trend inflow to close the quarter. Quality stocks experienced strong trend outflows throughout the quarter.

Trend Holdings

In addition to the latest investor positioning in each of the significant style dimensions, the historical holdings trend can provide further context on investor sentiment.

The below time series shows the monthly change in investor holdings over the past year. This chart provides expanded context on the trend of investor holdings leading up to the quarter-end positioning (Figure 5).

At the end of Q1, investor holdings in higher Market Beta and Relative Quality remain the most overweight, despite trend outflows and a market pullback. Conversely, holdings in higher Dividend Yield, Small Caps, Relative Value, and Value/Growth are as underweight as we have observed.

Figure 9: Institutional Style Holdings

(Last Quarter)

Institutional Style Holdings

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