QES Investable Strategies

Since Yin Luo and the QES team joined Wolfe Research in 2016, they have published over 100 papers (totaling >4,000 pages), with 30+ live models. One the most common questions from clients is whether our models still deliver alpha once trading costs and other institutional constraints (e.g., turnover) are accounted for. To demonstrate the realistic alpha of our strategies, we introduced the investable versions of our sophisticated quantitative models. We take some of our high conviction models (e.g., MALTA, SHIELD), and overlay them with our proprietary risk models and portfolio construction tools to show the performance of investable products.

We track the performance of each investable strategy on a daily basis and performance is reported every month. Offering these products allows investors to gain exposure to top-quality quantitative strategies without needing to incur the massive expense of building out a full data infrastructure. Our strategies span a broad range of themes, from machine learning, alpha in an inflationary environment, and models designed to outperform during large market drawdowns. We offer investable products across every investment thesis and horizon.

Investable Strategies

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Flagship

Name Description Universe History
Alpha Seeking (MALTA) A systematic multi-factor model that selects the features and characteristics of companies that are most predictive of future stock performance. Global November 2018
Defensive (SHIELD) Designed to hedge against market meltdowns yet remain resilient in an up market by adjusting for key factor risk. Global December 2018
Emerging Markets (GEMMA) A machine learning model that is customized for emerging markets. EM November 2020
Inflation Alpha (RISE) Designed to hedge against inflation yet remain resilient in deflation by adjusting for key factor risk. Global November 2021
Oil Protection (SHIELD-Oil) Designed to insulate investors from the substantial drawdowns that the crude oil market may experience. Global September 2022
Short-term Alpha (MALTA StatArb) A weekly trained and weekly rebalanced systematic strategy that selects the features from both technical and fundamental factors to best forecast stock returns. US December 2022
Stat Arb (StarPerformer) A global stock selection model driven by interpretable sequential Deep Learning algorithm to capture short-term mean reversion pattern. Global March 2022
Style Timing (LEAP) A systematic linear multi-factor model with style timing and machine learning overlay. Global February 2023

Liquid Alternatives

Name Description Universe History
Disruptive Innovation (ISA) This is a factor neutral strategy that targets the pure stock selection skill of discretionary ETF managers who invest in disruptive-innovation companies. US March 2021
High Intelligence Wolfe Alpha List (HIWAL) The strategy combines long positions of Wolfe fundmental analysts best picks with the short hedge and alpha enhancement from Wolfe QES's quantitative stock-selection model, LEAP. US January 2023
Market Neutral AI (BRAIN) We identify stocks based on AI related patenting activity and utilizes NLP models to analyze company filings and call transcripts, the strategy aims to minimize systematic risks while focusing on the AI theme. US September 2023
Market Neutral Dividend Growth (MNDG) This leverages the strength of GRID (dividend growth) model on the long side; DISC and PADS (dividend cut) on short side. US July 2021
Market Neutral Wolfe Alpha List (MNWAL) The strategy combines Wolfe's finest fundamental picks with advanced portfolio construction, capturing pure stock selection prowess while mitigating systematic risks. US January 2023
NLP Premia (GINA) We source textual alpha from a multitude of regulatory filings including 10K/10Qs, 8Ks, company call transcripts, 13Fs, Form 3/4s and global filings. US August 2019
Option Premium (OSLO) Options tend to be sophisticated instruments containing forward-looking information about underlying stocks. The strategy capitalizes on insights derived from option participants. US September 2023
Patent Innovation Alpha (PIA) Patent based stock selection model that rate stocks based on their innovation prowess, innovation maintenance, obsolescence risk and dominance in the patent citation network. US November 2019
Sector Specific Alpha Our strategy leverages sector specific models for banks, TMT, energy, REITs, ect. Our models utilize industry specific fundamentals and estimates, patent filings, property-level information, local macroeconomic variables. US January 2021

Risk Fortified SMART BETA (Market Neutral)

Name Description Universe History
Market Neutral Dividend (MND) We eliminate the dividend yield factor's undesirable and unintentional exposure to other common risk factors, boosting the performance of the dividend yield portfolio materially. Global March 2021
Market Neutral Momentum (DREAM) Our DREAM strategy effective captures the momentum upside while mitigating the downside by dynamic risk targeting and removing unnecessary risk exposure. Global April 2021
Market Neutral Quality (QUEST) This strategy is designed to thrive under all market conditions. The strategy not only anticipates outperformance in market stress but also maintains robustness during risk rallies. Global March 2021
Market Neutral Value (AVID) This strategy captures the upside of value investing and avoids recent underperformances, with a much lower downside risk than conventional value factors. Global April 2021
Risk fortified Quality, and Growth We eliminate the dividend yield factor's undesirable and unintentional exposure to other common risk factors, boosting the performance of the dividend yield portfolio materially. Global March 2021

Risk PREMIA (Long Only)

Name Description Universe History
Long-Only Dividend This strategy tracks the S&P 500 index with a significantly higher dividend yield than the benchmark and a more consistent outperformance. US April 2021
Long-Only Quality Composite The strategy invests high quality dividend yield and growth stocks with large capacity. US June 2022
Long-Only Quality Growth The strategy invests in high quality growth stocks with large capacity. US June 2022
Long-Only Quality Yield The strategy invests in high quality dividend yield stocks with large capacity. US June 2022
Long-Only Value This strategy attempts to capture the upside of market recovery – similar to value investing – and at the same time, limits downside risk. US April 2021
Low volatility strategy (CALM) We enhance the traditional minimum variance strategy using a dynamic risk model that adapts to changing market conditions. US May 2020

Thematic (Long Only)

Name Description Universe History
Merger Arb (SARA) We create a long-only, systematic approach to capture the alternative risk premia from M&A transactions. US May 2018
AI (BRAIN) Long Only BRAIN strategy selects stocks on the basis of their patenting activity in the AI domain and enhances it with NLP model on company filings and call transcripts. US September 2023
Metaverse Using our novel RIPE Framework, built to identify leading innovators in the Metaverse space using patents and enhanced with NLP analysis without falling for the hype trap. US November 2022
CLEAN We identify companies that are actively working towards climate change using NLP analysis with pattern data. US January 2023
Long Only Wolfe Alpha List (LOWAL) The strategy combines Wolfe's fundamental picks with advanced portfolio construction. US October 2021

Regional (Long Only)

Name Description Universe History
China A Strategy (MALTA) We construct an enhanced index strategy for CSI 300 and CSI 500. China December 2018
Chinese New Year Effect (CHEERS) This is a disciplined model specifically designed to capitalize on the Chinese New Year Effect. China January 2019
Emerging Markets Long Only (GEMMA) We leverage our factor library and deep domain knowledge to access emerging markets equities with consistent outperformance. EM November 2020

ESG Empowerment

Name Description Universe History
MALTA ESG The strategy is designed to beat equity indices with higher returns and a better ESG rating. We use our alpha signals to enhance the performance of customized ESG strategy. Global November 201
Quality Yield ESG The strategy invests in high quality dividend yield stocks on the top ESG rated names. Global June 2022

Risk Factor Hedging

Name Description History
Completion Basket This basket edges out all (or selected) style risk(s) to best capture the idiosyncratic risk from stock selection. December 2021
Inflation and Interest Rate Hedge (SINC/SIRC) The inflation hedge basket SINC is highly correlated with the changes of the 10-year breakeven rate. The interest rate hedge basket SIRC is highly correlated with changes of treasury yield. November 2018
Momentum Hedge An effective momentum hedge that attains the same exposure but uses a lower capital requirement and transaction cost. September 2019

Custom Strategies

Name Description
Custom Factor Strategy We collaborate with clients to construct and backtest client-specific strategies using factors clients select from our library.
Hedge Fund Diversifier (HFD) We work with clients to combine existing strategies and design new strategies based on clients’ needs.

Dedicated Short Strategy

Name Description History
Dedicated Short Strategy November 2022