We develop a GARCH option model with a variance premium by combining the Heston-Nandi (2000) dynamic with a new pricing kernel that nests Rubinstein (1976) and Brennan (1979). While the pricing kernel is monotonic in the stock return and in variance, its projection onto the stock return is...

The literature on dynamic option valuation typically does not explicitly specify a pricing kernel. Instead it characterizes the kernel indirectly by specifying prices of risk, or defines it implicitly as the ratio of the risk-neutral and physical probabilities. We propose explicit pricing...

We nest multiple volatility components, fat tails and a U-shaped pricing kernel in a single option model and compare their contribution to describing returns and option data. All three features lead to statistically significant model improvements. A U-shaped pricing kernel is economically most...

We survey the theory and empirical evidence on GARCH option valuation models. We provide an overview of different functional forms for the volatility dynamic, multifactor models, nonnormal innovation distributions and valuation techniques. We also discuss alternative pricing kernels used for...