Time-Varying Momentum Profitability

Despite the extensive literature on cross-sectional aspects of momentum, time-variation in momentum profitability receives little attention. We present a comprehensive examination of the time-series predictability of momentum profits. We uncover a list of intriguing features of time-variation in momentum profits: (1) market volatility has significant power to forecast momentum payoffs, which is even more robust than that of market state or business cycle variables; (2) the time-series predictability is centered on loser stocks; and (3) the time-series patterns appear to be at odds with the cross-sectional results. These new findings jointly present a tough challenge to existing theories on momentum