Does loss aversion explain dollar-cost averaging?

Abstract

Some studies find the dollar-cost averaging investment strategy to be sub-optimal from a mean variance expected utility of wealth perspective. Statman [The Journal of Portfolio Management (1995) fall] introduces a behavioral rationale for the persistence of dollar-cost averaging. Using prospect theory to create an alternative utility function that does not require investors to be strictly risk averse, we empirically test Statman’s conjecture for four investment strategies and for alternative stock investments. We find loss aversion still does not explain the existence of the dollar-cost averaging investment strategy.