Implied Asset Volatility Factor

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Quant Buffet native backtest IDE

Edit and run Quant Buffet Python for Implied Asset Volatility Factor in the browser. Results update live with equity, drawdown, and metrics charts. Allowed: backtest.data, backtest.engine, backtest.metrics, numpy, pandas. Define ASSETS and make_on_day(prices). Shortcut: Ctrl+Enter. API docs →

Ready — edit code, then Run backtest.
IDE · 36 lines
Quant Buffet syntax cheat sheet (copy / insert)

Paste these fragments into the editor. The sandbox rejects QuantConnect, os, and network libraries.

Required imports
Only these libraries are allowed in the sandbox.
from __future__ import annotations

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

from backtest.data import load_daily_prices
from backtest.engine import EngineConfig, PortfolioEngine
from backtest.metrics import compute_metrics
ASSETS list (whitelisted ETFs)
Module-level list. Tickers must be in the Quant Buffet whitelist.
ASSETS = ["SPY", "QQQ", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
make_on_day contract
Must return (on_day, ready). on_day calls engine.set_target_weights.
def make_on_day(prices: pd.DataFrame):
    cols = [c for c in ASSETS if c in prices.columns]
    sma = prices[cols].rolling(200, min_periods=200).mean()
    state = {"last": None}

    def on_day(engine: PortfolioEngine, dt: pd.Timestamp) -> None:
        if sma.loc[dt].isna().all():
            return
        key = (dt.year, dt.month)
        if state["last"] == key:
            return
        state["last"] = key
        long = [
            s for s in cols
            if pd.notna(prices.at[dt, s]) and pd.notna(sma.at[dt, s])
            and prices.at[dt, s] > sma.at[dt, s]
        ]
        weights = {} if not long else {s: 1.0 / len(long) for s in long}
        engine.set_target_weights(dt, weights)

    ready = sma.dropna(how="all").index.min() if sma.notna().any().any() else None
    return on_day, ready
Set target weights
Weights should sum to about 1.0. Empty dict = 100% cash.
engine.set_target_weights(dt, {"SPY": 0.60, "BIL": 0.40})

Live backtest performance

CAGR
8.48%
Sharpe
0.69
Max DD
-24.94%
Vol
12.98%
Sortino
1.06
Beta
0.41

Run the backtest to populate charts.

Export to your platform

Transform Quant Buffet lab code (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine) into native classes for a third-party IDE — then copy and paste.

Run in: QuantConnect Cloud or LEAN CLI · QCAlgorithm with Equity securities and monthly rebalance.

Detected pattern: Absolute momentumAssets: SPY, TLT, GLD, BIL
# Generated from Quant Buffet → QuantConnect LEAN
# Strategy: Implied Asset Volatility Factor
# Detected pattern: Absolute momentum
# Source uses Quant Buffet lab APIs (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine).
# Review fees, data, and risk before live trading — educational export only.

from AlgorithmImports import *


class QuantBuffetExport(QCAlgorithm):
    def Initialize(self):
        self.SetStartDate(2010, 1, 1)
        self.SetCash(100000)
        tickers = ["SPY", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
        self.symbols = []
        for t in tickers:
            if "-" in t:  # crypto proxy e.g. BTC-USD
                self.symbols.append(self.AddCrypto(t.replace("-USD", ""), Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
            else:
                self.symbols.append(self.AddEquity(t, Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
        self.Schedule.On(
            self.DateRules.MonthStart(self.symbols[0]),
            self.TimeRules.AfterMarketOpen(self.symbols[0], 30),
            self.Rebalance,
        )
        # Logic: Long assets with positive 252-day return; equal-weight; monthly.

    def Rebalance(self):
        # Pattern: abs_momentum — Long assets with positive 252-day return; equal-weight; monthly.
        # Default: equal-weight. Port your make_on_day weights here via SetHoldings.
        w = 1.0 / len(self.symbols) if self.symbols else 0.0
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            self.SetHoldings(symbol, w)

Exported code uses the platform’s native classes and libraries. Install dependencies in your third-party IDE, then run. Validate before live trading.

Academic paper

Implied Asset Return Profiles, Firm Fundamentals, and Stock Returns

AuthorsJongsub Lee; Andy Naranjo; Stace Sirmans

Institute
  • KRSeoul National University
  • University of Florida
  • ?University of Florida - Warrington College of Business Administration
  • Auburn University
  • ?Auburn University - Department of Finance

Screenshot from the original paper

Screenshot from the original paper
Screenshot from the original paper

Strategy in a nutshell

Universe: NYSE, AMEX, Nasdaq stocks with market cap ≥ $100M, price ≥ $1, and 5-year CDS. Use Merton’s model to compute 6-month asset return and volatility changes. Stocks are double-sorted by return and volatility:

Short top volatility quintile within each return quintile.

Equally weighted, monthly rebalanced.

Long bottom volatility quintile,

Economic rationale

Asset volatility changes predict future returns: higher volatility changes (conditional on returns) signal lower future returns and higher idiosyncratic earnings volatility. This factor is persistent, tied to firm fundamentals, and not explained by common risk factors.

Backtest performance

Annualised return8.48%
Volatility12.98%
Beta0.41
Sharpe ratio0.69
Sortino ratio1.06
Maximum drawdown-24.94%