Stock FAQs

why do investors require a higher expected rate of return on common stock than on bonds?

by Myra Watsica Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Stocks have historically delivered higher returns than bonds because there is a greater risk that, if the company fails, all of the stockholders' investment will be lost (unlike bondholders who might recoup fully or partially the principal of their lending).

Why do investors require a higher expected rate of return on common stock than on bonds? Common stock is a riskier investment than bonds.

Full Answer

How does the required rate of return affect preferred stocks?

As the required rate of return of an investment decreases, the market price of the investment decreases. Because most preferred stocks are perpetuities, their value can be determined by dividing the annual dividend by an investor's required return.

What is the expected rate of return on investment?

However, the investor’s required rate of return in now 6%, and so the investor expects a return of 6% or higher in order for the other investment options to be considered. What is Expected Return on Investment? The expected rate of return is the return that the investor expects to receive once the investment is made.

What happens to stock prices when interest rates are low?

This increases demand for stock and the price of the stock rises relative to its earnings. Also, low interest rates are thought to benefit earnings, so investors are expecting future earnings increases. When interest rates are high, investors move out of stocks into bonds, and average price-earnings ratios contract.

How much return do you need to make a stock investment worthwhile?

For example, if inflation is 3% per year, and the equity risk premium over the risk-free return (using a U.S. Treasury bill which returns 3%), then an investor might require a return of 9% per year to make the stock investment worthwhile.

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Why do stock investors require a higher rate of return than bond investors?

Stocks have historically delivered higher returns than bonds because there is a greater risk that, if the company fails, all of the stockholders' investment will be lost (unlike bondholders who might recoup fully or partially the principal of their lending).

Why is Common Stock riskier than bonds?

In general, stocks are riskier than bonds, simply due to the fact that they offer no guaranteed returns to the investor, unlike bonds, which offer fairly reliable returns through coupon payments.

Should an investment have a higher expected rate of return than required rate of return?

The greater the return, the greater the level of risk. A lesser return generally means that there is less risk. RRR is commonly used in corporate finance when valuing investments. You may use RRR to calculate your potential return on investment (ROI).

Why would a long-term investment require a higher rate of return?

Because long-term investments, like stocks, are often considered less safe than other assets, they provide a higher potential rate of return over time, allowing you a better chance of maintaining your purchasing power. An I-bond's interest rate is a combination of a fixed rate and an inflation rate.

Which is better common stock or bonds?

Bonds are safer for a reason⎯ you can expect a lower return on your investment. Stocks, on the other hand, typically combine a certain amount of unpredictability in the short-term, with the potential for a better return on your investment.

Why is higher return higher risk?

What is a high-risk, high-return investment? High-risk investments may offer the chance of higher returns than other investments might produce, but they put your money at higher risk. This means that if things go well, high-risk investments can produce high returns.

Is higher rate of return better?

Generally speaking, investors who are willing to take on more risk are usually rewarded with higher returns. Stocks are among the riskiest investments because there's no guarantee a company will continue to be viable. Even huge corporations could fail from one day to the next and leave investors with nothing.

How does the rate of return affect the investment decisions?

ROI can be calculated on stock investments, any capital investment of a company or individual on an asset, or an ROI simply generated from a transaction. The ROI result can be positive or negative. If the result is positive, the Investment will be profitable, and if negative, the Investment is likely to incur a loss.

What factors contribute to the rate of return that investors require on an investment?

The rate of return is the sum of five critical factors: risk-free rate, inflation premium, liquidity premium, default risk premium, and majority premium.

Why is long-term investment better?

The advantage of long-term investing is found in the relationship between volatility and time. Investments held for longer periods tend to exhibit lower volatility than those held for shorter periods. The longer you invest, the more likely you will be able to weather low market periods.

What is required rate of return on bond?

The required rate of return (hurdle rate) is the minimum return that an investor is expecting to receive for their investment. Essentially, the required rate is the minimum acceptable compensation for the investment's level of risk. The required rate of return is a key concept in corporate finance and equity valuation.

Why is it reasonable to expect growth funds and value funds to perform well over different periods of time?

Growth stocks are expected to outperform the overall market over time because of their future potential. Value stocks are thought to trade below what they are really worth.

How Is Expected Return Used in Finance?

It is a tool used to determine whether an investment has a positive or negative average net outcome. The calculation is usually based on historical data and therefore cannot be guaranteed for future results, however, it can set reasonable expectations.

What is expected return for a portfolio containing multiple investments?

The expected return for a portfolio containing multiple investments is the weighted average of the expected return of each of the investments.

What Are Historical Returns?

Historical returns are the past performance of a security or index , such as the S&P 500. Analysts review historical return data when trying to predict future returns or to estimate how a security might react to a particular economic situation, such as a drop in consumer spending. Historical returns can also be useful when estimating where future points of data may fall in terms of standard deviations.

What is expected return and standard deviation?

The expected return of a portfolio is the anticipated amount of returns that a portfolio may generate, making it the mean (average) of the portfolio's possible return distribution. 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.

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.

What is expected return?

Expected return and standard deviation are two statistical measures that can be used to analyze a portfolio.

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 required rate of return?

The required rate of return is the return that an investor requires to make an investment in an asset, an investment, or a project. The required rate of return represents the riskiness of the investment being made; the rate of return will reflect the compensation that the investor receives for the risk borne.

How are required and expected returns similar?

Expected return, on the other hand, is the return that the investor thinks they can generate if the investment is made. If the security is valued correctly the expected return will be equal to the required return and the net present value of the investment will be zero. However, if the required return is higher than the expected rate the investment security is considered to be overvalued and if the required return is lower than the expected the investment security is undervalued.

What is expected return?

Expected return, on the other hand, is the return that the investor thinks they can generate if the investment is made. If the security is valued correctly the expected return will be equal to the required return and the net present value of the investment will be zero.

Is expected rate of return a guarantee?

The expected rate of return is an assumption, and there is no guarantee that this rate of return will be received. However, certain instruments have a set rate of return such as interest on fixed deposits; with such investments, the expected return can be known with a much greater degree to certainty.

Is an investment security overvalued?

However, if the required return is higher than the expected rate the investment security is considered to be overvalued and if the required return is lower than the expected the investment security is undervalued .

What is expected return on a stock?

Return is arrived at by dividing the total return by the cost of the investment. Expected return is an estimation of future return.

What is the return on an investment?

Return on an investment is the total value derived from that investment over a specified period of time. Actual return consists of the profit or loss made when the stock is sold plus whatever dividend income is received during the time the stock was held. If the stock pays no dividend, return is simply positive or negative depending on whether the stock was sold for more or less than its cost. Return is arrived at by dividing the total return by the cost of the investment. Expected return is an estimation of future return.

Why do analysts look at past earnings increases?

Analysts look at past earnings increases to see if the dividend is likely to be increased as a result of higher earnings. When interest rates are low, price earnings ratios expand. That is because investors move out of bonds seeking better returns on stock. This increases demand for stock and the price of the stock rises relative to its earnings. ...

Is past performance a risky way to estimate future return?

Some investors and analysts consider past performance a risky way to estimate future return. They consider the probability that interest rates will rise or fall and the likelihood that something will disrupt the business of the company, causing the company's earnings to be lower than expected. They create business and economic scenarios ...

When the required rate of return is equal to the cost of capital, it sets the stage for a favorable scenario?

When the required rate of return is equal to the cost of capital, it sets the stage for a favorable scenario. For example, a company that's willing to pay 5% on its raised capital and an investor who requires a 5% return on their asset likely would be satisfied trading partners.

Why do investors use risk/reward ratios?

Many investors use risk/reward ratios to compare the expected returns of an investment with the amount of risk they must undertake to earn these higher returns. Investors who take on greater levels of risk may also reap potentially greater returns.

What is the cost of capital?

The cost of capital refers to the expected returns on securities issued by a company. Companies use the cost of capital metric to judge whether a project is worth the expenditure of resources. Investors use this metric to determine whether an investment is worth the risk compared to the return .

What is the real cost of investing?

For example, when an investor purchases $1,000 worth of stock, the real cost is everything else that could have been done with that $1,000 —including buying bonds, purchasing consumer goods, or putting it in a savings account. When a company issues $1 million worth of debt securities, the real cost to the company is everything else that could have been done with the money that eventually goes to repay those debts.

What is required rate of return?

The required rate of return generally reflects the investor's, not the issuer's, point of view in terms of managing risk. In a nominal sense, investors can find a risk-free return by holding on to their money; or they can find a low-risk return by investing in safe assets —cash, short-term U.S. Treasuries, money market funds, and gold.

Why is knowing the cost of capital important?

Knowing the cost of capital can help a company to compare its options for raising cash more easily.

Who reaps greater returns?

Investors who take on greater levels of risk may also reap potentially greater returns.

Which has higher seniority, preferred stock or common stock?

Preferred stock has higher seniority than bonds and common stock.

What is common stock?

Common stock provides the investor a residual claim on both the firm's assets and the firm's cash flow.

What should the capital budgeting analysis determine when evaluating an excursion hotel?

If the Excursion Hotel & Spa has two projects competing for execution, then the capital budgeting analysis should decide which project has the highest increase in value for the firm.

What does residual claim mean in common stock?

Common stock's residual claim on assets implies owners have a prior claim on assets before other claim holders are paid.

Is indirect cash flow relevant to a capital budgeting project?

Indirect cash flows caused by a capital budgeting project are not relevant to the project investment decision.

Is internal common equity higher than external common equity?

The cost of a firm's internal common equity is generally higher than the costs of a firm's external common equity due to issuance costs.

Is net cash flow cost benefit?

Net cash flow is part of the cost-benefit analysis, specifically the cost component.

What happens to the market price of an investment as the required rate of return decreases?

As the required rate of return of an investment decreases, the market price of the investment decreases.

Why do rational investors prefer 8% bonds?

d. All rational investors will prefer the 8% bond because it pays more interest.

Why do zero coupon bonds have a higher price?

a. The zero coupon bond must have a higher price because of its greater capital gain potential.

How many bonds does Charlie Corporation have?

Charlie Corporation has two bonds outstanding. Both bonds mature in 10 years, have a face value of $1,000, and have a yield to maturity of 8%. One bond is a zero coupon bond and the other bond has a coupon rate of 8%. Which of the following statements is true?

Why do risk-averse investors select portfolios that include only companies from the same industry group?

d. Risk-averse investors often select portfolios that include only companies from the same industry group because the familiarity reduces the risk.

What is convertible bond?

Convertible bonds are debt securities that can be converted into a firm's stock at a prespecified price.

What happens to the required rate of return for each unit of beta?

According to the CAPM, for each unit of Beta an asset's required rate of return increases by the market's risk premium.

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