# Why do low standard deviation stocks tend to have superior future returns?

I've recently stumbled on something that really surprised me. These papers (1, 2) find that past standard deviation of returns is inversely related to future returns. That is, portfolio of low historical variance constituents (stocks) $\to$ better returns.

My question: Are there any studies that contradict these findings for any market(s)? Or is this pretty much the consensus view at the moment? Is this anomaly as well established as the size, momentum, B/M anomalies?

(I'm talking specifically about historical return standard deviation, and not idiosyncratic volatility. I already know that the results for idiosyncratic volatility are ambiguous and there are findings either way.)

1 "Benchmarks as Limits to Arbitrage: Understanding the Low-Volatility Anomaly", Baker, Bradley & Wurgler, (2011), Financial Analysts Journal.

2 "The Volatility Effect" by Blitz and Vliet, (2007), Journal of Portfolio Management.

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See this question: Why does the minimum variance portfolio provide good returns?. Also, some quants from AQR wrote a paper recently that shows how much of Warren Buffet's performance can be attributed to "betting against beta", ie picking low-beta stocks. –  chrisaycock Oct 29 '12 at 5:17
@jase minimum variance between two equities are highly negatively correlated. Hence they offset/compliment each others risk.... –  bonCodigo Jan 15 '13 at 19:56
@bonCodigo I don't understand. –  Jase Jan 16 '13 at 0:07
Do you mean risk-adjusted returns? –  Joshua Jan 25 '13 at 4:48

Here is a piece on trying to replicate the results of low vol anomaly.

http://systematicedge.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/low-volatility/

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Could you briefly summarize the paper (objectives, main findings) in a few sentences so I can award the answer? –  Jase Jan 26 '13 at 1:53
The piece simply aims to use an alternate measure of volatility (beta) and check for the robustness of the low volatility anomaly. It universe encompasses small cap, mid cap, large cap. The results are summarized in the table whereby each top 50 stock’s performance are compared with the bottom 50’s performance. Results confirm the anomaly. –  user1234440 Jan 26 '13 at 14:38