Cross-sectional conditional risk return analysis in the sorted beta framework: A novel Two Factor Model

This study examines the conditional relationship between beta and return for stocks traded on S&P 500 for the period from July 2001 to June 2011. The portfolios formed based on the Book value per share and betas using monthly data. A novel approach for capturing time variation in betas whose pattern is treated as a function of market returns is developed and presented. The estimated coefficients of a nonlinear regression constitute the basis of creating a two factor model. Our results indicate that the proposed specification surpasses alternative models in explaining the cross-section of returns.