机器学习与因子模型双核驱动 法兴银行：量化投资王者归来

Core Insights - Quantitative stock investment is expected to perform exceptionally well in 2025 after years of stagnation, driven by models based on factors and machine learning that have shown strong performance amid market volatility and political noise [1][6] Group 1: Strategy Recovery - Traditional long/short factor models and newer machine learning-based strategies are experiencing a revival, with the global bottom-up stock factor strategy rising over 9% this year, successfully navigating market volatility [2][3] - The top-down factor indices covering regions like Europe, the US, and Japan have also shown robust growth, particularly value and momentum strategies outside the US [2] Group 2: Regional and Strategy Performance - Europe has been the leading region for factor performance in 2025, with value strategies achieving the best relative and absolute returns, although valuation gaps have narrowed significantly [3] - Machine learning models from Société Générale have performed strongly, with a newly launched mean-reversion strategy yielding a return of 4.1%, outperforming basic reversal models [3] Group 3: Investment Themes and Strategy Outlook - Société Générale is optimistic about defensive stock income strategies, focusing on companies with strong balance sheets and high dividend yields, particularly in utilities, telecom, and energy sectors [4] - The US small-cap value strategy, excluding distressed stocks, has outperformed benchmark indices, emphasizing the importance of balance sheet strength as credit conditions tighten [4] - The "strong balance sheet" trade is supported as an alternative hedging strategy against high-yield credit risk, maintaining positive growth in 2025 [4] Group 4: Outlook for the Second Half of 2025 - Despite the strong performance of European value strategies, a cautious outlook is held for the second half of 2025 due to rising market volatility and valuation spreads nearing historical norms [5] - The easy gains from European value stocks may be over, influenced by geopolitical uncertainties and increasing earnings risks [5]