Portfolio Optimization using Predictive Auxiliary Classifier Generative Adversarial Networks with Measuring Uncertainty

TL;DR

This paper introduces PredACGAN, a probabilistic deep learning model based on ACGAN for portfolio optimization that accounts for prediction uncertainty and risk, leading to improved returns and lower drawdowns.

Contribution

It adapts ACGAN for probabilistic prediction in finance and develops a risk-aware portfolio rebalancing algorithm, enhancing traditional deep learning approaches.

Findings

PredACGAN achieves higher returns and Sharpe ratio compared to models ignoring risk.

The proposed method reduces maximum drawdown in portfolio management.

Experimental results on S&P 500 data validate the effectiveness of PredACGAN.

Abstract

In financial engineering, portfolio optimization has been of consistent interest. Portfolio optimization is a process of modulating asset distributions to maximize expected returns and minimize risks. To obtain the expected returns, deep learning models have been explored in recent years. However, due to the deterministic nature of the models, it is difficult to consider the risk of portfolios because conventional deep learning models do not know how reliable their predictions can be. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a probabilistic model, namely predictive auxiliary classifier generative adversarial networks (PredACGAN). The proposed PredACGAN utilizes the characteristic of the ACGAN framework in which the output of the generator forms a distribution. While ACGAN has not been employed for predictive models and is generally utilized for image sample generation, this paper proposes a method to use the ACGAN structure for a probabilistic and predictive model. Additionally, an algorithm to use the risk measurement obtained by PredACGAN is proposed. In the algorithm, the assets that are predicted to be at high risk are eliminated from the investment universe at the rebalancing moment. Therefore, PredACGAN considers both return and risk to optimize portfolios. The proposed algorithm and PredACGAN have been evaluated with daily close price data of S&P 500 from 1990 to 2020. Experimental scenarios are assumed to rebalance the portfolios monthly according to predictions and risk measures with PredACGAN. As a result, a portfolio using PredACGAN exhibits 9.123% yearly returns and a Sharpe ratio of 1.054, while a portfolio without considering risk measures shows 1.024% yearly returns and a Sharpe ratio of 0.236 in the same scenario. Also, the maximum drawdown of the proposed portfolio is lower than the portfolio without PredACGAN.