Autocorrelated Optimize-via-Estimate: Predict-then-Optimize versus Finite-sample Optimal

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Hauptverfasser: Wang, Zichun, Loke, Gar Goei, Zuo, Ruiting
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Wang, Zichun
Loke, Gar Goei
Zuo, Ruiting
author_facet Wang, Zichun
Loke, Gar Goei
Zuo, Ruiting
contents Models that directly optimize for out-of-sample performance in the finite-sample regime have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional estimate-then-optimize approaches in data-driven optimization. In this work, we compare their performance in the context of autocorrelated uncertainties, specifically, under a Vector Autoregressive Moving Average VARMA(p,q) process. We propose an autocorrelated Optimize-via-Estimate (A-OVE) model that obtains an out-of-sample optimal solution as a function of sufficient statistics, and propose a recursive form for computing its sufficient statistics. We evaluate these models on a portfolio optimization problem with trading costs. A-OVE achieves low regret relative to a perfect information oracle, outperforming predict-then-optimize machine learning benchmarks. Notably, machine learning models with higher accuracy can have poorer decision quality, echoing the growing literature in data-driven optimization. Performance is retained under small mis-specification.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_01877
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Autocorrelated Optimize-via-Estimate: Predict-then-Optimize versus Finite-sample Optimal
Wang, Zichun
Loke, Gar Goei
Zuo, Ruiting
Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
Models that directly optimize for out-of-sample performance in the finite-sample regime have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional estimate-then-optimize approaches in data-driven optimization. In this work, we compare their performance in the context of autocorrelated uncertainties, specifically, under a Vector Autoregressive Moving Average VARMA(p,q) process. We propose an autocorrelated Optimize-via-Estimate (A-OVE) model that obtains an out-of-sample optimal solution as a function of sufficient statistics, and propose a recursive form for computing its sufficient statistics. We evaluate these models on a portfolio optimization problem with trading costs. A-OVE achieves low regret relative to a perfect information oracle, outperforming predict-then-optimize machine learning benchmarks. Notably, machine learning models with higher accuracy can have poorer decision quality, echoing the growing literature in data-driven optimization. Performance is retained under small mis-specification.
title Autocorrelated Optimize-via-Estimate: Predict-then-Optimize versus Finite-sample Optimal
topic Machine Learning
Optimization and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01877