Prague Economic Papers 2025, 34(2):137-164 | DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.889

Risk-Adjusted Performance of American and European Clean-Energy Portfolios

Dejan Živkov ORCID..., Boris Kuzman, Katica Radosavljević
Dejan Živkov, Corresponding author - Institute of agricultural economics, Belgrade, Serbia. Address: Volgina 15, 11060 Belgrade
Boris Kuzman: Institute of agricultural economics, Belgrade, Serbia. Address: Volgina 15, 11060 Belgrade,
Katica Radosavljević: Institute of agricultural economics, Belgrade, Serbia. Address: Volgina 15, 11060 Belgrade

This study constructs two eight-asset green-energy portfolios, featuring stocks from the U.S. and Europe, to assess which portfolio delivers superior risk-adjusted performance. The analysis utilizes advanced performance metrics, the Stutzer and Omega ratios, with the traditional Sharpe ratio serving as a benchmark. Portfolios are evaluated across both pre-crisis and crisis periods. The results reveal differences in the structures of the Sharpe and Stutzer portfolios, underscoring the Stutzer ratio's ability to improve portfolio performance. Additionally, the Omega portfolio enhances the analysis by allowing the selection of varying thresholds, offering greater adaptability to align with diverse investor preferences. When comparing the U.S. and European portfolios, the U.S. portfolio consistently demonstrates better risk-adjusted performance. This advantage stems from factors such as favorable market dynamics, supportive government policies, greater access to capital, advanced technological innovation, and effective corporate strategies.

Keywords: green-energy portfolios, sophisticated performance metrics
JEL classification: G11, G32, P28

Received: February 6, 2025; Revised: March 27, 2025; Accepted: May 7, 2025; Published: July 12, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Živkov, D., Kuzman, B., & Radosavljević, K. (2025). Risk-Adjusted Performance of American and European Clean-Energy Portfolios. Prague Economic Papers34(2), 137-164. doi: 10.18267/j.pep.889
Download citation

References

  1. Asl, M.G., Rashidi, M.M., Tavakkoli, H.R., Rezgui, H. (2024). Does Islamic investing modify portfolio performance? Time-varying optimization strategies for conventional and Shariah energy-ESG-utilities portfolio. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 94, 37-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2023.12.010 Go to original source...
  2. Atmaca, M.E. (2022). Portfolio management and performance improvement with Sharpe and Treynor ratios in electricity markets. Energy Reports, 8, 192-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.11.287 Go to original source...
  3. Balder, S., Schweizer, N. (2017). Risk aversion vs. the Omega ratio: Consistency results. Finance Research Letters, 21, 78-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2016.12.012 Go to original source...
  4. Benson, K., Gray, P., Kalotay, E., Qiu, J. (2008). Portfolio Construction and Performance Measurement when Returns are Non-Normal. Australian Journal of Management, 32(3), 445- 462. https://doi.org/10.1177/031289620803200304 Go to original source...
  5. Bernard, C., Vanduffel, S., Jiang Ye, J. (2019). Optimal strategies under Omega ratio. European Journal of Operational Research, 275(2), 755-767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2018.11.046 Go to original source...
  6. Bertrand, P., Prigent, J-l. (2011). Omega performance measure and portfolio insurance. Journal of Banking and Finance, 35(7), 1811-1823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2010.12.001 Go to original source...
  7. Bessler, W., Taushanov, G., Wolff, D. (2021). Optimal asset allocation strategies for international equity portfolios: A comparison of country versus industry optimization. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 72, 101343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2021.101343 Go to original source...
  8. Bi, H., Huang, R.J., Tzeng, L.Y., Zhu, W. (2019). Higher-order Omega: A performance index with a decision-theoretic foundation. Journal of Banking and Finance, 100, 43-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.12.013 Go to original source...
  9. Bondarenko, O. (2014). Variance trading and market price of variance risk. Journal of Econometrics, 180(1), 81-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2014.02.001 Go to original source...
  10. Comello, S., Reichelstein, S. (2016). The U.S. investment tax credit for solar energy: Alternatives to the anticipated 2017 step-down. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 591-602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.108 Go to original source...
  11. Demiralay, S., Gencer, G., Kilincarslan, E. (2023). Risk-return profile of environmentally friendly assets: Evidence from the NASDAQ OMX green economy index family. Journal of Environmental Management, 337, 117683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117683 Go to original source...
  12. Dong, C., Wu, H., Zhou, J., Lin, H., Chang, L. (2023). Role of renewable energy investment and geopolitical risk in green finance development: Empirical evidence from BRICS countries. Renewable Energy, 207, 234-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.02.115 Go to original source...
  13. Fong, W.M. (2016). Stochastic dominance and the omega ratio. Finance Research Letters, 17, 7-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2015.10.026 Go to original source...
  14. Haley, M.R., McGee, M.K. (2011). "KLICing" there and back again: Portfolio selection using the empirical likelihood divergence and Hellinger distance. Journal of Empirical Finance, 18(2), 341-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2010.12.002 Go to original source...
  15. Islam, H. (2025). Nexus of economic, social, and environmental factors on sustainable development goals: The moderating role of technological advancement and green innovation. Innovation and Green Development, 4(1), 100183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.igd.2024.100183 Go to original source...
  16. Keating, C., Shadwick, W.F. (2002). A universal performance measure. Journal of Performance Measurement, 6, 59-84.
  17. Kranias, A., Psychoyios, D., Refenes, A-P. (2024). "Green Companies" and Financial Performance: The Green Premium. International Review of Economics and Finance, 96, 103525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2024.103525 Go to original source...
  18. Li, T., Yue, X-G., Qin, M., Diego Norena-Chavez, D. (2024).Towards Paris Climate Agreement goals: The essential role of green finance and green technology. Energy Economics, 129, 107273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2023.107273 Go to original source...
  19. Liang, Z., Nasruddin, E. (2024). Impact of Green Finance on High-Quality Economic Development: A Panel Data Regression. Prague Economic Papers, 33(5), 543-564. https://doi.org/10.18267/j.pep.876 Go to original source...
  20. Lu, X., Huang, N., Mo, J., Ye, Z. (2023). Dynamics of the return and volatility connectedness among green finance markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Energy Economics, 125, 106860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2023.106860 Go to original source...
  21. Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio selection. Journal of Finance, 7, 77-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1952.tb01525.x Go to original source...
  22. Nemec, P., Štefko, R., Kubák, M. (2022). Better environmental value using public procurement: Evidence from Visegrad group countries. Czech Journal of Economics and Finance, 72(4), 296-327.
  23. O'Rear, E.G., Sarica, K., Tyner, W.E. (2015). Analysis of impacts of alternative policies aimed at increasing US energy independence and reducing GHG emissions. Transport Policy, 37, 121-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2014.10.016 Go to original source...
  24. Pingkuo, L., Junqing, G. (2024). Comparative analysis on the development potential of green hydrogen industry in China, the United States and the European Union. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 84, 700-717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.08.298 Go to original source...
  25. Radpour, S., Gemechu, E., Ahiduzzaman, M., Kumar, A. (2021). Developing a framework to assess the long-term adoption of renewable energy technologies in the electric power sector: The effects of carbon price and economic incentives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 152, 111663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111663 Go to original source...
  26. Rahat, B., Nguyen, P. (2022). Risk-adjusted investment performance of green and black portfolios and impact of toxic divestments in emerging markets. Energy Economics, 116, 106423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106423 Go to original source...
  27. Sen, C., Chakrabarti, G. (2024). Exploring the risk dynamics of US green energy stocks: A green time-varying beta approach. Energy Economics, 139, 107951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107951 Go to original source...
  28. Sikiru, A.A., Salisu, A.A. (2023). Hedging against risks associated with travel and tourism stocks during COVID-19 pandemic: The role of gold. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 28(2), 1872-1882. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2513 Go to original source...
  29. Stoian, M. (2021). Renewable energy and adaptation to climate change. Western Balkan Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 3(2), 111-121. https://doi.org/10.5937/WBJAE2102111S Go to original source...
  30. Stutzer, M. (2000). A portfolio performance index. Financial Analyst Journal, 56(3), 52-61. https://doi.org/10.2469/faj.v56.n3.2360 Go to original source...
  31. Tan, Y-M., Szulczyk, K., Sii, Y-H. (2023). Performance of ESG-integrated smart beta strategies in Asia-Pacific stock markets. Research in International Business and Finance, 66, 102008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2023.102008 Go to original source...
  32. Vilkancas, R. (2014). Characteristics of Omega-optimized portfolios at different levels of threshold returns. Business Management and Education, 12, 245-265. https://doi.org/10.3846/bme.2014.235 Go to original source...
  33. Yoon, S-J. (2017). Time-varying risk aversion and return predictability. International Review of Economics and Finance, 49, 327-339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2017.02.006 Go to original source...
  34. Yu, J-R., Wan-Jiun Paul Chiou, W-J.P., Hsin, Y-T., Sheu, H-J. (2022a). Omega portfolio models with floating return threshold. International Review of Economics and Finance, 82, 743-758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2022.08.018 Go to original source...
  35. Yu, J-R., Chiou, W-J.P., Lee, W-Y. (2022b). An omega portfolio model with dynamic return thresholds. International Transactions in Operational Research, 30, 2528-2545. https://doi.org/10.1111/itor.13153 Go to original source...
  36. Zaharia, A., Popescu, G., Vreja, L.O. (2019). Energy scientific production in the context of the green development models. Economic Computation and Economic Cybernetics Studies and Research, 50(4), 151-168.
  37. Zakamouline, V., Koekebakker, S. (2009). Portfolio performance evaluation with generalized Sharpe ratios: Beyond the mean and variance. Journal of Banking and Finance, 33(7), 1242-1254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2009.01.005 Go to original source...

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY NC ND 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.