Option gamma and stock returns

Amar Soebhag

Journal of Empirical Finance, 2023, vol. 74, issue C

Abstract: Stocks with high net gamma exposure systematically underperform stocks with low net gamma exposure. This effect is distinct from other well-known return predictors, and survives many robustness checks. We show that stocks with low net gamma exposure negatively predict future realized volatility, and argue that investors command a risk premium to hold low net gamma exposure stocks, which are riskier. Lastly, we show that the volatility predictability stems from a non-informational channel, and not from private information.

Keywords: Cross-section of stock returns; Option demand; Gamma hedging; Return predictability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G11 G12 G14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:empfin:v:74:y:2023:i:c:s0927539823001093

DOI: 10.1016/j.jempfin.2023.101442

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