
Multiply the beta value by the difference between the market rate of return and the risk-free rate. For this example, we'll use a beta value of 1.5. Using 2 percent for the risk-free rate and 8 percent for the market rate of return, this works out to 8 - 2, or 6 percent.
- Expected return = Risk Free Rate + [Beta x Market Return Premium]
- Expected return = 2.5% + [1.25 x 7.5%]
- Expected return = 11.9%
How do you determine the beta of a stock?
Beta - Run a regression to determine a stock's beta coefficient using excess returns. The CAPM Model - Set the expected Risk-Free Rate and Equity Risk Premium. Active Management - Walk through the process of using a stock's expected return to make active decisions.
What are beta beta and expected market return?
Beta of the asset (β a ), a measure of the asset's price volatility relative to that of the whole market. Expected market return (r m ), a forecast of the market's return over a specified time. Because this is a forecast, the accuracy of the CAPM results are only as good as the ability to predict this variable for the specified period.
How do you calculate the expected rate of return on stocks?
Multiplied by a beta of 1.5, this yields 9 percent. Add the result to the risk-free rate. This produces a sum of 11 percent, which is the stock's expected rate of return. The higher the beta value for a stock, the higher its expected rate of return will be.
How to find expected return on a stock using CAPM model?
How To Find the Expected Return on a Stock Using the CAPM Model 1 Expectations - Highlight how we transition from using historical data to setting expectations. 2 Beta - Run a regression to determine a stock's beta coefficient using excess returns. 3 The CAPM Model - Set the expected Risk-Free Rate and Equity Risk Premium. More items...

How do you calculate the expected return of a stock?
An expected return is calculated by multiplying potential outcomes by the odds of them occurring and then totaling these results. Expected returns cannot be guaranteed. The expected return for a portfolio containing multiple investments is the weighted average of the expected return of each of the investments.
How does beta relate to expected return?
If a stock is riskier than the market, it will have a beta greater than one. If a stock has a beta of less than one, the formula assumes it will reduce the risk of a portfolio. A stock's beta is then multiplied by the market risk premium, which is the return expected from the market above the risk-free rate.
Is expected return the same as beta?
As I indicated before, the expected return on a security generally equals the risk-free rate plus a risk premium. In CAPM the risk premium is measured as beta times the expected return on the market minus the risk-free rate.
How do you calculate expected return on CAPM?
The expected return, or cost of equity, is equal to the risk-free rate plus the product of beta and the equity risk premium....For a simple example calculation of the cost of equity using CAPM, use the assumptions listed below:Risk-Free Rate = 3.0%Beta: 0.8.Expected Market Return: 10.0%
What will happen to the expected return on a stock with a beta of 1.5 and a market risk premium of 9% if the Treasury bill increases from 3% to 5%?
The S&P 500 would be expected to yield about 17.00%. What will happen to the expected return on a stock with a beta of 1.5 and a market risk premium of 9% if the Treasury bill yield increases from 3 to 5%? A. The expected return will remain unchanged.
What is the beta for a portfolio with an expected return of 12.5 %?
What is the beta for a portfolio with an expected return of 12.5%? Since rf = 5% and E(rM) = 10%, from the CAPM we know that 12.5% = 5% + beta(10% - 5%), and therefore beta = 1.5.
How do you calculate the expected value?
To find the expected value, E(X), or mean μ of a discrete random variable X, simply multiply each value of the random variable by its probability and add the products. The formula is given as. E ( X ) = μ = ∑ x P ( x ) .
How do you calculate the expected return of a stock in Excel?
In cell F2, enter the formula = ([D2*E2] + [D3*E3] + ...) to render the total expected return....Key TakeawaysEnter the current value and expected rate of return for each investment.Indicate the weight of each investment.Calculate the overall portfolio rate of return.
What is expected return?
Expected return and standard deviation are two statistical measures that can be used to analyze a portfolio.
What is standard deviation in portfolio?
Standard deviation of a portfolio, on the other hand, measures the amount that the returns deviate from its mean, making it a proxy for the portfolio's risk. Expected return is not absolute, as it is a projection and not a realized return.
Is expected return based on historical data?
The expected return is usually based on historical data and is therefore not guaranteed into the future; however, it does often set reasonable expectations. Therefore, the expected return figure can be thought of as a long-term weighted average of historical returns .
Is expected return dangerous?
Limitations of Expected Return. To make investment decisions solely on expected return calculations can be quite naïve and dangerous. Before making any investment decisions, one should always review the risk characteristics of investment opportunities to determine if the investments align with their portfolio goals.
What is expected return theory?
that can take any values within a given range. The expected return is based on historical data, which may or may not provide reliable forecasting of future returns. Hence, the outcome is not guaranteed.
Is tossing a coin a discrete distribution?
Tossing a coin has two possible outcomes and is thus an example of a discrete distribution. A distribution of the height of adult males, which can take any possible value within a stated range, is a continuous probability distribution. Expected Return.
Is expected return a predictor of stock performance?
Although not a guaranteed predictor of stock performance, the expected return formula has proven to be an excellent analytical tool that helps investors forecast probable investment returns and assess portfolio risk and diversification.
How to find expected return on a stock?
How To Find the Expected Return on a Stock Using the CAPM Model 1 Expectations - Highlight how we transition from using historical data to setting expectations. 2 Beta - Run a regression to determine a stock's beta coefficient using excess returns. 3 The CAPM Model - Set the expected Risk-Free Rate and Equity Risk Premium. 4 Active Management - Walk through the process of using a stock's expected return to make active decisions. 5 Next: LINEST - Learn to customize regression output in Excel.
Why do we use the prevailing interest rate on a 10-year Treasury bond?
Others with a long time frame may use the yield to maturity on a 10-year Treasury Bond because when holding a bond to maturity it provides that rate of return.
How to calculate beta?
Beta could be calculated by first dividing the security's standard deviation of returns by the benchmark's standard deviation of returns. The resulting value is multiplied by the correlation of the security's returns and the benchmark's returns.
What is the beta of a stock?
Beta is a measure used in fundamental analysis to determine the volatility of an asset or portfolio in relation to the overall market. The overall market has a beta of 1.0, and individual stocks are ranked according to how much they deviate from the market.
How to calculate beta of a security?
To calculate the beta of a security, the covariance between the return of the security and the return of the market must be known, as well as the variance of the market returns. Covariance measures how two stocks move together. A positive covariance means the stocks tend to move together when their prices go up or down.
Why are low beta stocks important?
Low-beta stocks pose less risk but typically yield lower returns. As a result, beta is often used as a risk-reward measure, meaning it helps investors determine how much risk they are willing to take to achieve the return for taking on that risk. A stock's price variability is important to consider when assessing risk.
What is variance in stocks?
Variance, on the other hand, refers to how far a stock moves relative to its mean. For example, variance is used in measuring the volatility of an individual stock's price over time. Covariance is used to measure the correlation in price moves of two different stocks.
What is the beta of utility stocks?
Many utility stocks , for example, have a beta of less than 1. Conversely, many high-tech stocks on the Nasdaq have a beta greater than 1, offering the possibility of a higher rate of return, but also posing more risk.
What is the difference between high and low beta?
A stock that swings more than the market over time has a beta greater than 1.0. If a stock moves less than the market, the stock's beta is less than 1.0. High-beta stocks tend to be riskier but provide the potential for higher returns. Low-beta stocks pose less risk but typically yield lower returns. As a result, beta is often used as ...
How to calculate beta of a stock?
Here is a straightforward formula for calculating the Beta Coefficient of a Stock: 1 Obtain the stock’s historical share price data. 2 Obtain historical values of a market index, e.g., S&P 500. 3 Convert the share price values into daily return values using the following formula: return = (closing share price − opening share price)/opening share price. 4 Convert historical stock market index values in a similar way. 5 Align the share return data with index return such that there is a 1-on-1 correspondence between them. For share price return, there should be a corresponding index return. 6 Using the SLOPE function in a financial calculator to find the slope between both arrays of data and the resultant figure is Beta.
What does beta mean in stocks?
Beta can give you an estimate of the stock’s risk and some idea of market volatility. Ideally, the Beta will tell you the difference between a stock’s risk and the risk of an entire index market.
What is the beta coefficient?
Generally, analysts regard the Beta Coefficient as a measure of systematic or “general market” risk. Analysts often use the mathematical symbol β to represent the Beta in calculations. To explain, systematic is the level of risk or volatility of equity in the entire market or index.
Why do analysts use the beta coefficient?
Analysts examine the Beta Coefficient, or Beta of stock, because the Beta measures risk and volatility. Specifically, the Beta can give you an estimate of the stock’s risk and some idea of market volatility. Ideally, the Beta will tell you the difference between a stock’s risk and the risk of an entire index market.
Why is beta a limited tool?
Hence, the Beta is a limited tool because it only measures some risks associated with individual stocks or indexes. However, a rough estimate of risk is better than no estimate of risk.
What does a value of 5 mean?
A value of 1 means it moved with the market, a value of 2 means it moved up and down with the market but twice as much, and a value of .5 means it moved up and down half as much as the market did. Strategic Beta for Funds & ETFs.
Can you use beta in stock analysis?
In the final analysis, the Beta is only one of many stock analysis tools you can use. In fact, some analysts and investors never use the Beta. On the other hand, there are many analysts who swear by the Beta. Hence using the Beta is a matter of choice.
How to calculate the return of a stock?
Begin calculating returns for the stock market index. 1 Since return is a calculation over time, you won't put anything in your first cell; leave it blank. You need at least two data points to calculate returns, which is why you'll start on the second cell of your index-returns column. 2 What you're doing is subtracting the more recent value from the older value and then dividing the result by the older value. This just gives you the percent of loss or gain for that period. 3 Your equation for the returns column might look something like this: = (B4-B3)/B3
What is beta in stock market?
Learn more... Beta is the volatility or risk of a particular stock relative to the volatility of the entire stock market. Beta is an indicator of how risky a particular stock is, and it is used to evaluate its expected rate of return.
What does it mean when the beta is lower than 1?
The risk of an index is fixed at 1. A beta of lower than 1 means that the stock is less risky than the index to which it's being compared. A beta of higher than 1 means the stock is more risky than the index to which it's being compared.
How to interpret beta?
Know how to interpret beta. Beta is the risk, relative to the stock market as a whole, an investor assumes by owning a particular stock. That's why you need to compare the returns of a single stock against the returns of an index. The index is the benchmark against which the stock is judged. The risk of an index is fixed at 1. A beta of lower than 1 means that the stock is less risky than the index to which it's being compared. A beta of higher than 1 means the stock is more risky than the index to which it's being compared.
What is beta analysis?
Beta analyzes a stock's volatility over a set period of time, without regard to whether the market was on an upswing or downswing. As with other stock fundamentals, the past performance it analyzes is not a guarantee of how the stock will perform in the future. Thanks!
How many data points do you need to calculate returns?
You need at least two data points to calculate returns, which is why you'll start on the second cell of your index-returns column. What you're doing is subtracting the more recent value from the older value and then dividing the result by the older value.
What does it mean when the beta is negative?
Usually the rates of return are figured over several months. Either or both of these values may be negative, meaning that investing in the stock or the market (index) as a whole would mean a loss during the period. If only one of the two rates is negative, the beta will be negative.
How to Calculate Expected Returns of Stocks using CAPM in Python
Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a famous investment theory that shows the relationship between the expected return of an asset and market risk. The market risk here is referring to the systematic risk that cannot be diversified away such as interest rates, recessions, and wars.
Github
The original full source codes presented in this article are available on my Github Repo. Feel free to download it ( CAPM_2.py) if you wish to use it to follow my article.
Acquisition of Stock Data
Prior to implementing the CAPM, we use yFinance to obtain the stock data of Amazon. yFinance is an open-source Python library that we can use to obtain stock data from Yahoo Finance without any charge.
Conclusions
We have gone through all the steps to implement CAPM. CAPM is considered a one-factor model as it only considers the market risk factor. However, this model is still widely used in the financial industry, especially for riskier investments.

Outline
- First, we will lay out a roadmap for how to use historical market data and process it to find market expectations. Second, we calculate beta on the stock Merck using returns in excess of the risk-free rate, called excess returns. Third, we set macro expectations for returns on the Market and a Risk-Free rate seeing how the work of scholars helps us...
Step 1 - Setting Expected Returns on Stocks
- For Step 1, let's see how we transition from the Historical to Expected timeframe. We use a depiction of Financial Modeling Timeframes to help keep straight the many different data sets we work with when managing stock portfolios. The backward-looking data from the Historical period is what anyone can collect, right? Historical returns are available to everyone. It isn't until we star…
Step 2 - Find Beta with Excess Returns
- Let's jump right in to an exercise for the stock Merck using data that sits on our Returns data tab, which can be downloaded sign-up free as shown in our System Setuptutorial. Relevant columns from this table include dates in column B, returns for Merck in column F, the Market in column G and Rf which stands for risk-free, in column H. (The first three rows are shown in the table below…
Step 3 - The CAPM Model
- Now for Step 3, let's touch on the CAPM Model that sits behind this procedure. In the tutorial on Portfolio Theorywe went into some detail about CAPM in the context of portfolio construction, the Separation Theorem, describing the investor's trade-off between the risk-free return and the Market Portfolio. Here instead we use CAPM to set the expected return on a stock using the CA…
Step 4 - The Active Management Process
- With that let's calculate an expected return for Merck. First, let's set the expected Risk-Free Return at 2.5%, the prevailing rate on T-Bills at the time. Second, for the Equity Risk Premium I picked a conservative estimate of 5.0%. So the total expectation for the Market is the sum of 2.5% and 5%, or 7.5%. Next, with those inputs we can find the expected return on a stock using the CAPM equ…
Summary
- By way of summary, we saw how we transition from using historical data to setting expectations using a three-part process. First, we found the Security Characteristic Line for Merck and saw how important its slope is for us. Second, we set expected returns after making forecasts for the risk-free return and the return on the Market with a view towards theory. And finally, we saw the fore…
Step 5 - Next: Excel's Linest Function
- In the next episode we will address those points about fine-tuning our regressions and for that we will employ Excel's =LINEST()function. Our following here is growing and we'd love for you to be a part of it so subscribe so you don't miss future tutorials. Please feel free to join us any time and have a nice day.