In: Finance
Compute the expected return of Firm A, which has a 1.2 beta. The risk-free rate is 3.5% and the market portfolio has an expected return of 16%. Why the expected return is greater than the market return?
As per CAPM, Expected Return = Risk free Return + beta*(Market Return - Risk free Return)
Expected Return on A = 3.5% + 1.2*(16%-3.5%)
= 18.5%
Beta is a measure of risk. Beta of market is 1.
Since A has higher beta, it is riskier than the market. With higher risk, comes higher returns. Hence, expected return on A is higher than the market return.