Unmapped Holdings and the Performance Measurement of U.S. Equity Mutual Funds
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Abstract
This paper investigates a dataset that provides information about assets held
by U.S. equity mutual funds, but are not U.S. equities (`unmapped holdings'). I
show the widespread presence of these assets and investigate how they are used
within mutual fund portfolios. I find that their effects are statistically significant
upon both portfolio risk and return. They can either hedge or complement mapped
asset returns. I show that predictability of mutual fund returns are reduced when
unmapped holdings returns are controlled. Since unmapped holdings returns are not
observable, I define an econometric technique that in chapter two that can control
for their effect. This technique uses an average return (an `endogenous benchmark')
to control for common but immeasurable or unobservable characteristics in a group
of funds. I find that an `endogenous benchmark' alone produces estimates nearly as
good as those using common risk factor regression models. By combining an endoge-
nous bechmark with other risk factors in regression models, I find that estimates
are improved.