Series: Occasional Papers. 2207.
Author: Julio Gálvez.
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Abstract
This paper assesses the estimation of the so-called equity risk premium, i.e. the expected return on equities in excess of the risk-free rate, using the dividend discount model as the organizing framework. I compare the equity risk premium estimates from different dividend discount models in terms of the in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting ability across different time horizons. Using data from the Eurostoxx 50 from 2001-2021, I find that equity risk premium estimates exhibit similar dynamics, and are elevated during periods of high uncertainty, such as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, I find that the three-stage dividend discount model, which divides earnings growth into an extraordinary, transitional and steady-state phase, performs the best in terms of forecasting ability.