Can Sentiment Analysis and Option Volume Anticipate Future Returns?

This paper evaluates if sentiment extracted from social media and options volume anticipates future asset return. Using both textual based data and a particular market data derived call-put ratio, between July 2009 and September 2012, this research shows that: 1) features derived from market data and a call-put ratio improve model performance, and 2) sentiment derived from StockTwits, a social media platform for the financial community, further improves model performance