The SEV-SV Model—Applications in Portfolio Optimization

Abstract

This paper introduces and studies a new family of diffusion models for stock prices with applications in portfolio optimization. The diffusion model combines (stochastic) elasticity of volatility (EV) and stochastic volatility (SV) to create the SEV-SV model. In particular, we focus on the SEV component, which is driven by an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process via two separate functional choices, while the SV component features the state-of-the-art 4/2 model. We study an investment problem within expected utility theory (EUT) for incomplete markets, producing closed-form representations for the optimal strategy, value function, and optimal wealth process for two different cases of prices of risk on the stock. We find that when EV reverts to a GBM model, the volatility and speed of reversion of the EV have a strong impact on optimal allocations, and more aggressive (bull markets) or cautious (bear markets) strategies are hence recommended. For a model when EV reverts away from GBM, only the mean reverting level of the EV plays a role. Moreover, the presence of SV leads mainly to more conservative investment decisions for short horizons. Overall, the SEV plays a more significant role than SV in the optimal allocation.