Double-sorts and Fama & MacBeth (1973) regressions reveal that none of these control variables can explain the related risk premium. The double-sorted portfolio returns and alphas all remain statistically significant and are of similar magnitudes to those of the univariate sort. In cross-sectional regressions, a two-standard deviation increase in the persistence of option-implied central moments leads to a decrease in annual returns of 2.5% when including control variables. In a regression with all control variables, the cross-sectional risk premium on the persistence of the option-implied central moments is significant relative to the rigorous criteria defined by Harvey et al. (2016). These results cannot be explained by a level-effect of the individual higher moments or potential measures of uncertainty proposed in previous studies.