Testing Ben Graham’s Stock Selection Criteria in Indian Stock Market

Abstract

Using the data on stocks listed on Bombay Stock Exchange for the period spanning from 1996 to 2010, the present study intends to examine the profitability of stock selection criteria of Benjamin Graham in Indian capital market. The different risk–reward combinations of the criteria and the minimum number of principles to be followed by a stock have been examined using one sample T-test, Sharpe ratio and capital asset pricing model (CAPM). The results make it evident that all the risk-reward combinations can be used safely by investors in order to extract excess returns except the combination of discount to net current asset value (NCAV) and current ratio and the combination of high dividend yield and low leverage. Such stocks have lesser chances of growth in future and excessively blocked inventory reduces the operating efficiency of the business. Furthermore the stocks meeting any four rules of the criteria can yield excess returns to investors if such stocks are held for the period of 24 months.