Scientific Beta

ETF.com: "Minimum volatility was found to be the worst performing strategy in July and June, according to EDHEC Risk Institute’s ERI Scientific Beta report. However, the research house also found that minimum volatility delivered the best risk-adjusted performance from January to July and has delivered positive performance of 11 percent since inception in 2002."

ETF.com 05/09/2014

"(...) Investors are hardwired to believe that taking higher risks means being rewarded in the long run with higher returns. Yet low volatility stocks have been proven by several academic papers to outperform high volatility stocks. But as investors flood into this strategy, industry participants have questioned whether this outperformance will last. Minimum volatility was found to be the worst performing strategy in July and June, according to EDHEC Risk Institute’s ERI Scientific Beta report. However, the research house also found that minimum volatility delivered the best risk-adjusted performance from January to July and has delivered positive performance of 11 percent since inception in 2002. (...)"