Andrew Willis: A factor is a common set of characteristics, like low valuations or market capitalization, that can help explain and predict asset risks and returns. Factor investing is a method of choosing securities based on the factors that could generate the highest possible return.
For example, over the long-term certain characteristics like low valuations, large companies and strong recent performance, have tended to generate higher returns than the market – These “characteristics” could be called over the long term, quality, size and momentum factors.
At Morningstar, we identify seven factors that we believe can help investors gain new insights into their portfolio: Style, Yield, Momentum, Quality, Volatility, Liquidity, and Size.
While it could be relatively easy to tell some factors for an individual stock, how do you know what factors your fund holds? Well now, you can tell with the new Morningstar Factor Profile. This new feature, available under the ‘portfolio tab’ of fund pages, immediately evaluate the factors affecting your funds to enhance diversification, better manage risk, and increase your odds of generating above-market returns.
For Morningstar, I’m Andrew Willis