Comparative Analysis of DEA and FDEA Methods for Performance Evaluation of Investment Firms Listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Financial Engineering and Risk Management, Iranian Electronic Higher Education Institute, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study develops an advanced framework to evaluate the performance of 28 investment firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 1398--1403 (2019--2024), comparing the efficacy of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis (FDEA). The analysis incorporates input variables---initial capital, risk, and price-to-earnings ratio (P/E)---and output variables---return on equity (ROE) and earnings per share (EPS). Employing DEA with variable returns to scale, efficiency scores, input excesses, optimal input levels, and reference sets for inefficient firms were determined. For FDEA, input and output data were transformed into fuzzy sets with high, moderate, and low levels using triangular fuzzy numbers, and efficiency was computed via fuzzy mathematical programming. The results indicate significant differences between DEA and FDEA efficiency scores, with DEA demonstrating higher precision and lower error rates in ranking firms and assessing efficiency. These findings highlight DEA's robustness for financial performance evaluation in emerging markets, while FDEA provides valuable insights under conditions of uncertainty, offering implications for investment decision-making and portfolio optimization.
Keywords

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Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 29 July 2026

  • Receive Date 07 September 2025
  • Revise Date 12 September 2025
  • Accept Date 13 September 2025