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Sources for Tracking Quantitative Factor Performance

Article Quant Q&A · Author: Gene

Summary

The document asks where to find recurring performance data for traditional quantitative factors and receives suggestions spanning public factor libraries, institutional data vendors, and retail-oriented research platforms. Kenneth French’s data library and AQR’s data library are recommended for classic factors. The reply also names commercial providers that track factors, while another answer describes a platform for researching, testing, monitoring, and trading equity strategies, including user-built factor systems.

The platform discussion emphasizes that data quality affects backtest reliability, especially when fundamental information must be aligned to what was available at the time. It also notes that a researcher can build a custom tracking system, though this requires more setup than using a prepared dashboard. These are pointers and user opinions rather than a systematic comparison of coverage, methodology, cost, or live performance. Factor results can differ with construction, universe, data quality, and evaluation period, so the document does not establish that any named source provides a definitive measure of what is currently working.

Key ideas

  • Public factor libraries can provide histories for classic quantitative factors.
  • Commercial vendors offer factor data, often aimed at institutional users.
  • Research platforms may combine factor tracking with screening, portfolio simulation, and backtesting.
  • Point-in-time fundamental data helps reduce look-ahead and survivorship bias in backtests.
  • Factor performance figures depend on data, construction choices, and the period measured.

Tags

Full text
# Quant/Stat Factor Performance Website/Distribution?


# Quant/Stat Factor Performance Website/Distribution?












Does anyone know of a decent quant/stat factor website, distribution(public or private) or publication that tracks performance of "many" of traditional quant/stat factors? By that I mean would show daily, weekly, or monthly performance of enough traditional factors just to get a general idea of what is working lately/been trending for a long time/etc.. (e.g. 3 day reversion strategies worked quite well the last two weeks and open/close bracketing strategies got crushed last month.)

I've seen the occasional distribution from a bank that will show a handful of factors they run on a quarterly/annual basis, and Bloomberg has some functionality (e.g. BTST) that leaves a lot to be desired, but I've got to imagine there's something more systematic/open source out there, especially with the (slow) rise of more cloud based backtesting services, since what I'm looking for really just requires some person/group having coded enough factors up in a platform and a simple report on top. (The data quality is not too critical, but naturally the more flawed the less useful!)

Any pointers?

Much appreciated all! I'll certainly post anything I find as well.

## Answer by Swagato Acharjee (score 1)

https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/32905

Have you looked at Kenneth French's website or the AQR data library ? They do a good job of tracking the classic ones.

If you are looking for paid content, such as the one pointed out below there are plenty of vendors that provide that data although most of them are for institutional clients - look at factset, s&p capital iq, thomson reuters starmine, qsg, apt. Also Barra and Axioma. It is a highly commoditized product at this point.

## Answer by David Addison (score 0)

https://quant.stackexchange.com/a/32906

I use Portfolio123. It is a North American-focused equity research and trading platform targeted towards retail investors. There are tools for researching and tracking factors, designing and testing systems, screening, performance tracking, portfolio simulation, and even trading live algorithms. Some users follow others' strategies, others adapt off-the-shelf systems, while more advanced users can define their own unique systems. The focus is on North American (US and Canadian) equities and ETFs, but there are additional tools for macro-factor research and back-testing.

A major selling point is that the company fundamental data, coming from S&P Capital IQ, is institutional quality and designed for point-in-time back-testing. Data quality makes a huge difference in mitigating look-back and survivor bias. Premium fundamental data is also, arguably, much richer in alpha than commodity fundamental data.

It would be more work to setup a factor tracking system than a pre-configured off-the-shelf dashboard. But within a few weeks, you could easily design your own tracking system for a number of factors and using a number of tools. And you also might find something unique and therefore be able to fend off market efficiency longer than many other better known quant factors.

There are a range of user types and prices. Basic membership is intended to let user follow others and tinker around with ideas. More premium membership allows access to more advanced tools, a larger repository of systems, and longer back-test periods.

Also, +1 on @Cristina-Dima's suggestions regarding Quantopian and Quantpedia. Quantopian is more of a competitor with Portfolio123, while Quantpedia is surely a supplement -- I use it frequently for idea generation.

Shown in full with attribution under the source's licence. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Stack Exchange)

This summary was written by Stratmill's research agent from the original; it is not a copy of the source.