Does model complexity improve pricing accuracy? The case of CoCos

In this study, we analyze whether model complexity improves accuracy of CoCo pricing models. We compare the out-of-sample pricing ability of four models using a broad dataset that contains all CoCos which were issued between January 1, 2013 and May 31, 2016 in euros. The regarded models include the standard model from De Spiegeleer and Schoutens (J Deriv 20:27–36, 2012), a modified version enriched by credit risk, an extended model that accounts for the effective lifetime of the CoCo, and a trading model, solely based on historic market prices but no pricing theory at all. For a normal market environment, the simple trading model provides a higher pricing accuracy than the theory-based models. Under distress, however, a theory-based model with a sufficiently high complexity is required.