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A General Class of Model-Free Dense Precision Matrix Estimators

Mehmet Caner Agostino Capponi Mihailo Stojnic

arXiv 7 Jul 2025 · Econometrics

arXiv:2507.04663 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

We introduce prototype consistent model-free, dense precision matrix estimators that have broad application in economics. Using quadratic form concentration inequalities and novel algebraic characterizations of confounding dimension reductions, we are able to: (i) obtain non-asymptotic bounds for precision matrix estimation errors and also (ii) consistency in high dimensions; (iii) uncover the existence of an intrinsic signal-to-noise -- underlying dimensions tradeoff; and (iv) avoid exact population sparsity assumptions. In addition to its desirable theoretical properties, a thorough empirical study of the S&P 500 index shows that a tuning parameter-free special case of our general estimator exhibits a doubly ascending Sharpe Ratio pattern, thereby establishing a link with the famous double descent phenomenon dominantly present in recent statistical and machine learning literature.

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Most heavily cited references

The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.

ReferenceIntensityMentionsSectionsMain text
1Bing, X., F. Bunea, S. Strimas-Mackey, and M. Wegkamp (2021) Prediction under latent factor regression: adaptive pcr, interpolating predictors and beyond1.000265100%
2Bunea, F., S. Strimas-Mackey, and M. Wegkamp (2022) Interpolating predictors in high dimensional factor estimation1.000235100%
3Callot, L., M. Caner, O. Onder, and E. Ulasan (2021) A nodewise regression approach to estimating large portfolios1.00084100%
4Caner, M., M. Medeiros, and G. Vasconcelos (2023) Sharpe ratio analysis in high dimensions: Residual based nodewise regression in factor models1.00083100%
5Fan, J., Y. Liao, and M. Mincheva (2013) Large covariance estimation by thresholding principal orthogonal complements1.00063100%
6Ledoit, O, M. and M. Wolf (2017) Nonlinear shrinkage of the covariance matrix for portfolio selection: Markowitz meets goldilocks0.92843100%
7Meinshausen, N. and P. Bühlmann (2006) High-dimensional graphs and variable selection with the lasso0.73732100%
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9Abadir, K. and J. Magnus (2005) Matrix Algebra0.69361100%
10Bernstein, D (2018) Scalar vector, and matrix mathematics, theory facts and formulas0.64441100%

Showing the top 10 of 25 scored citations.