English

High-Dimensional Precision Matrix Quadratic Forms: Estimation Framework for $p > n$

Methodology 2026-01-08 v1

Abstract

We propose a novel estimation framework for quadratic functionals of precision matrices in high-dimensional settings, particularly in regimes where the feature dimension pp exceeds the sample size nn. Traditional moment-based estimators with bias correction remain consistent when p<np<n (i.e., p/nc<1p/n \to c <1). However, they break down entirely once p>np>n, highlighting a fundamental distinction between the two regimes due to rank deficiency and high-dimensional complexity. Our approach resolves these issues by combining a spectral-moment representation with constrained optimization, resulting in consistent estimation under mild moment conditions. The proposed framework provides a unified approach for inference on a broad class of high-dimensional statistical measures. We illustrate its utility through two representative examples: the optimal Sharpe ratio in portfolio optimization and the multiple correlation coefficient in regression analysis. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed estimator effectively overcomes the fundamental p>np>n barrier where conventional methods fail.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.03815,
  title  = {High-Dimensional Precision Matrix Quadratic Forms: Estimation Framework for $p > n$},
  author = {Shizhe Hong and Weiming Li and Guangming Pan},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.03815},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T08:54:09.266Z