The iM-BestogaX Index of the Russell1000 and related Trading Systems

  • The iM-BestogaX Index of the Russell1000 holds the so called “Vice” stocks (excluding Gaming stocks), plus the stocks from the GICS-sub-industries: Restaurants, Soft Drinks, and Internet Retail.
  • The number of stocks in this index varied from a minimum of 23 to a maximum of 32 since Jan-2000.
  • This capitalization weighted index outperformed SPY by about 4.5-times from Jan-2000 to Mar-2016.
  • Over down-market periods the iM-BestogaX Index lost on average 87% less than SPY, and over up-market periods gained on average 24% more than SPY.
  • An equal weighted investment in all available BestogaX stocks of the Index from the beginning of Jan-2000 to the middle Mar-2016 would have produced an annualized return of 17.2%.
  • Trading systems which periodically select a small number of highest ranked stocks from the Index produced simulated annualized return as high as 34.4% with maximum drawdowns of about -20%.

In five separate articles (listed below) we describe the universe and its index, two trading models, and a combination of them to make a robust and low turnover system, the iM-BetogaX5-System,  which will be updated weekly (Gold membership required).


fig1-bx-3-31-2016The BestogaX Universe of the Russell1000 consists of the so called “Vice” stocks (excluding Gaming stocks), plus the stocks from the GICS-sub-industries: Restaurants, Soft Drinks, and Internet Retail.

Many of the BestogaX companies have affordable products, familiar name brands, and worldwide distribution networks, providing them with reliable revenue growth also during adverse economic climates.


fig2-bx-3-31-2016The iM-BestogaX5-Investor model periodically selects only five of the highest ranked stocks from the Russell1000 BestogaX universe, and holds them for at least one year.

There is no market timing in the buy- and sell rules. The model is rebalanced weekly, resulting in small weight adjustments, and dividends are re-invested when available.

The  iM-BestogaX5-Investor, with partial hedging, shows a simulated annualized return of 29.06% from January 2000 to March 2016, and maximum drawdown would have been -17% in 2003.


fig2-bx-3-31-2016The iM-BestogaX5-Trader model periodically selects only five of the highest ranked stocks from the Russell1000 BestogaX universe, and holds them for at least three months.

There is no market timing in the buy- and sell rules. The model is rebalanced weekly, resulting in small weight adjustments, and dividends are re-invested when available.

The iM-BestogaX5-Trader, with partial hedging, shows a simulated annualized return of 38.8% from January 2000 to March 2016, and maximum drawdown would have been about -22% in 2000 and 2009.


fig4-bx-3-31-2016The iM-BestogaX5-System is a combination of the partially hedged (short SSO) BestogaX-5 Investor and Trader models, each of which periodically select five of the highest ranked stocks from the Russell1000 BestogaX universe.

This combination model shows a simulated annualized return of 34.4% from January 2000 to March 2016, and maximum drawdowns would have been -18% in the year 2000.


BestogaX SDS fig-4The iM-BestogaX5-System(SDS) is a combination of the partially hedged (long SDS) BestogaX-5 Investor and Trader models, each of which periodically select five of the highest ranked stocks from the Russell1000 BestogaX universe.

This combination model shows a simulated annualized return of 32.4% from January 2000 to April 2016, and maximum drawdowns would have been -16.9% in the year 2000.

Posted in blogs, featured
6 comments on “The iM-BestogaX Index of the Russell1000 and related Trading Systems
  1. arcadianskies says:

    Georg,

    Your iM-BestogaX5-System looks very interesting.

    Can you please explain how you came up with the collection of stocks for the BestogaX universe of the Russell 1000? Is this cherry-picking?

    Thank you,

    Paul

    • geovrba says:

      The reason why investing in the BestogaX stocks should also be profitable in the future, is that these companies exhibit many desirable characteristics which are not likely to change any time soon:

      1. Reliable and consistent revenue growth.
      2. Steady and predictable operating margins.
      3. Steady EPS growth (higher than the S&P500 EPS growth).
      4. Good debt management and low borrowing costs.
      5. Large financial resources to weather litigation.
      6. Recognizable name brands.
      7. Pricing power and growing markets, leading to growing, sustainable profits.
      8. Established, worldwide distribution networks.
      9. Operating also in emerging markets with large and growing populations.
      10. Affordable products, desired (needed) by many.

  2. ryneschraw says:

    Thanks Georg, this model looks like a robust addition to the collection.

    I have two quick questions for you:

    1) Why was WYNN (or other gambling stocks) excluded from this model, but not BESTOGA3?

    2) How strong is the correlation between the BestogaX5-System and the BESTOGA3 model?

    Thanks!

  3. geovrba says:

    1)Bestoga3 uses the Vice stocks from the S&P500. There was only one gaming stock in the S&P500, whereas the Russell1000 holds three. The gaming stocks showed large drawdowns during the financial crisis and do not fit the profile of the Bestoga-type stocks. (see my previous comment on desired characteristics.)

    2)About 65%.

  4. GEONADA says:

    Georg,

    Great work identifying this list of 32 Vice stocks and the related BESTOGAX systems.

    Can you go into more detail on why these 32 make your cut? i see your list above of 10 characteristics. is this your version of Piotroski F-Score?

    great theory and screening here, love these systems, great job.

    • geovrba says:

      There are currently only 32 stocks in the Russell 1000 which make the cut. They are not all “Vice” stocks. Casinos & Gaming is not included.

      BF.B — Brown-Forman Corp
      CCE — Coca-Cola European Partners Plc
      DPS — Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc
      KO — Coca-Cola Co (The)
      MNST — Monster Beverage Corp
      PEP — PepsiCo Inc
      STZ — Constellation Brands Inc
      TAP — Molson Coors Brewing Co
      ARMK — Aramark
      CBRL — Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc
      CMG — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc
      DNKN — Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc
      DPZ — Domino’s Pizza Inc
      DRI — Darden Restaurants Inc.
      JACK — Jack in the Box Inc.
      MCD — McDonald’s Corp
      PNRA — Panera Bread Co
      SBUX — Starbucks Corp
      TXRH — Texas Roadhouse Inc
      WEN — Wendy’s Co
      YUM — YUM! Brands Inc.
      AMZN — Amazon.com Inc
      EXPE — Expedia Inc
      LVNTA — Liberty Ventures
      NFLX — Netflix Inc
      PCLN — Priceline Group Inc (The)
      QVCA — Liberty Interactive Corp QVC Group
      TRIP — TripAdvisor Inc
      W — Wayfair Inc
      MO — Altria Group Inc
      PM — Philip Morris International Inc
      RAI — Reynolds American Inc

Leave a Reply

With reference to Section 202(a)(11)(D) of the Investment Advisers Act: We are Engineers and not Investment Advisers, read more ...
By the mere act of reading this page and navigating this site you acknowledge, agree to, and abide by the Terms of Use / Disclaimer