Unified Approach to Portfolio Optimization using the `Gain Probability Density Function' and Applications

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Mascomère, Jean-Patrick, Messud, Jérémie, Chatterjee, Yagnik, Garcia, Isabel Barros
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Mascomère, Jean-Patrick
Messud, Jérémie
Chatterjee, Yagnik
Garcia, Isabel Barros
author_facet Mascomère, Jean-Patrick
Messud, Jérémie
Chatterjee, Yagnik
Garcia, Isabel Barros
contents This article proposes a unified framework for portfolio optimization (PO), recognizing an object called the `gain probability density function (PDF)' as the fundamental object of the problem from which any objective function could be derived. The gain PDF has the advantage of being 1-dimensional for any given portfolio and thus is easy to visualize and interpret. The framework allows us to naturally incorporate all existing approaches (Markowitz, CVaR-deviation, higher moments...) and represents an interesting basis to develop new approaches. It leads us to propose a method to directly match a target PDF defined by the portfolio manager, giving them maximal control on the PO problem and moving beyond approaches that focus only on expected return and risk. As an example, we develop an application involving a new objective function to control high profits, to be applied after a conventional PO (including expected return and risk criteria) and thus leading to sub-optimality w.r.t. the conventional objective function. We then propose a methodology to quantify a cost associated with this optimality deviation in a common budget unit, providing a meaningful information to portfolio managers. Numerical experiments considering portfolios with energy-producing assets illustrate our approach. The framework is flexible and can be applied to other sectors (financial assets, etc).
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_11649
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unified Approach to Portfolio Optimization using the `Gain Probability Density Function' and Applications
Mascomère, Jean-Patrick
Messud, Jérémie
Chatterjee, Yagnik
Garcia, Isabel Barros
Portfolio Management
Applications
This article proposes a unified framework for portfolio optimization (PO), recognizing an object called the `gain probability density function (PDF)' as the fundamental object of the problem from which any objective function could be derived. The gain PDF has the advantage of being 1-dimensional for any given portfolio and thus is easy to visualize and interpret. The framework allows us to naturally incorporate all existing approaches (Markowitz, CVaR-deviation, higher moments...) and represents an interesting basis to develop new approaches. It leads us to propose a method to directly match a target PDF defined by the portfolio manager, giving them maximal control on the PO problem and moving beyond approaches that focus only on expected return and risk. As an example, we develop an application involving a new objective function to control high profits, to be applied after a conventional PO (including expected return and risk criteria) and thus leading to sub-optimality w.r.t. the conventional objective function. We then propose a methodology to quantify a cost associated with this optimality deviation in a common budget unit, providing a meaningful information to portfolio managers. Numerical experiments considering portfolios with energy-producing assets illustrate our approach. The framework is flexible and can be applied to other sectors (financial assets, etc).
title Unified Approach to Portfolio Optimization using the `Gain Probability Density Function' and Applications
topic Portfolio Management
Applications
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11649