Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Momentum Strategy for Responsible Investment in the Russian Stock Market

Abstract

In modern conditions, the integration of ESG-criteria into investment decisions of asset managers is considered as a key factor in sustainable economic development. We examine the effectiveness of the Momentum-ESG strategy based on the Responsibility and Openness Index in comparison with the Momentum strategy, which is based on the Moscow Exchange Broad Market Index, since December 2011 to December 2020. We propose an algorithm for integrating ESG criteria into momentum strategy. We select "winners" and "losers" stocks based on their monthly return. The Momentum-ESG strategy has a high Sharpe ratio for a time horizon of 12 months, the Momentum strategy - for a time horizon of 6 months. The testing of the Momentum-ESG strategy shows its greater efficiency in terms of the Sharpe ratio compared to the Momentum strategy, which does not take into account the ESG-factors, in the investing period.