Citi ‘Proves’ Contrarian Investing Flawed; Uses Bad Model

Contrarian and value investing strategies can generate incredible returns, as anyone who was buying up US equities in 2010 can tell you right now, but you sometimes get the feeling that analysts think dedicated value investors are a bit naïve.

“Many contrarian investors did very well in the financial crisis. The 2009-10 recovery trade offered them even more opportunities. We think it has always been cool to be contrarian, but sometimes it can also make you rich,” says a recent Citi report. Citi’s global strategy team argues that contrarian investment strategies are generally losing propositions, even though they outperform...