Resumen
This article presents a literature review that justified the creation of the equally weighed and minimum variance Valor-Coppead stock indices and offers details about its calculation. There was no Brazilian stock index with these simple portfolio formation rules attainable by the non-sophisticated investor. An index that uses the minimum variance portfolio in the efficient frontier, with limits on the weights, offers an optimized portfolio less affected by errors in estimates. Equally weighed portfolios with up to 20 stocks displayed a performance superior to that of the majority of Brazilian stock funds and comparable to that of the minimum variance portfolio with constrained weights, but portfolios optimized with more complex methods, may outclass equally weighed portfolios. The previous three or four months Sharpe ratio stock selection criterion is relevant. The literature reviewed supported that the Valor-Coppead indices may become relevant benchmarks for non-sophisticated investors.