Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in the US, often by a striking amount. Data covering nearly a century backs up the notion that value stocks—those with lower relative prices—have higher expected returns.

While disappointing periods emerge from time to time, the principle that lower relative prices lead to higher expected returns remains the same. Value premiums have often shown up quickly and in large magnitudes. For example, in years when value outperformed growth, the average premium was nearly 15%. On average, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks by 4.4% annually in the US since 1927, as Exhibit 1 shows.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing risks include loss of principal and fluctuating value. There is no guarantee an investment strategy will be successful.

The Fama/French indices represent academic concepts that may be used in portfolio construction and are not available for direct investment or for use as a benchmark. Index returns are not representative of actual portfolios and do not reflect costs and fees associated with an actual investment.

A consistent focus on value stocks is essential to capturing these outsize value premiums when they appear. Value investing is based on the premise that paying less for a set of future cash flows is associated with a higher expected return. That’s one of the most fundamental tenets of investing. Logic and history support a commitment to value stocks so investors can be positioned to take part when those shares outperform in the future.

DISCLOSURES

Eugene Fama and Ken French are members of the Board of Directors of the general partner of, and provide consulting services to, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

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RISKS
Investments involve risks. The investment return and principal value of an investment may fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original value. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee strategies will be successful.