Empirical evidence of profitability anomaly in the Thai stock market

Abstract

This study presents empirical evidence of profitability anomaly in the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The effects of gross profitability, operating profitability, and cash flow-to-price (C/P) on the subsequent stock returns are examined using the data from 2002 to 2019. The results of Fama-Macbeth (1973) regression and Carhart (1997) four-factor model indicate that gross profitability and C/P have significant explanatory power for future returns but not operating profitability. Further analysis confirms that gross profitability-sorted portfolio generates the largest risk-adjusted return and C/P-sorted portfolio presents the best consistency to outperform the market. Investing in the portfolios consisted of stocks with high gross profitability and C/P provides protection from the market downside.