Portfolios Effective Time Formation/Holding Period Based On Momentum Investment Strategy

Abstract

This paper examines the momentum investment strategy based on past market information to evaluate performance, time formation/holding period and seasonality impact on the Canadian Market. In doing so, we assess the effectiveness of portfolio formation and holding periods of this strategy. Utilizing variant models of different methodologies, we find strong evidence that assesses a 9 month formation and a 9 month holding period as the most effective formation/holding period in implementing a Momentum Investment Strategy when the formation period begins in January. We also find that regardless of when the formation period begins, the most effective portfolio will be held for 9 months beginning in October. While these findings confirm the short term nature of this investment strategy, they however differ in terms of the length of formation/holding periods commonly utilized in the literature. The shortness of the actual effective formation/holding periods may be caused mainly by the growing knowledgeable participants in the market. Investors who base their portfolio construction on momentum investment strategy would achieve higher returns by shortening their portfolio formation/holding periods.