Infrastructure: Real Assets and Real Returns

Little empirical work has been done on infrastructure as an asset class despite increased allocations by institutional investors. We build a robust factor model of infrastructure returns using US and Australian infrastructure and utility data to test manager claims that infrastructure investments offer benefits via a combination of monopolistic and defensive assets. We find evidence of excess returns and inflation hedging, but not of defensive characteristics. We compare option-based models designed to replicate infrastructure asset returns, and identify the regulatory risk premium. A combination of inflation linked bonds and covered call strategies results in improved defensive and inflation hedging characteristics.