Math Problem Statement

You have a portfolio of two stocks held in equal weights. The ABC stock has a beta of 1.3, and the XYZ stock has a beta of -0.2. The risk free rate is 3% and the market risk premium is 9%. What is the return on the portfolio?

Solution

To calculate the return on the portfolio, we'll use the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) formula:

Expected Return=Risk-Free Rate+Beta×Market Risk Premium\text{Expected Return} = \text{Risk-Free Rate} + \text{Beta} \times \text{Market Risk Premium}

Given dataTo calculate the return on the portfolio, we'll use the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) formula:

Expected Return=Risk-Free Rate+Beta×Market Risk Premium\text{Expected Return} = \text{Risk-Free Rate} + \text{Beta} \times \text{Market Risk Premium}

Given

  • Risk-Free Rate (Rf): 3%
  • Market Risk Premium (Rm - Rf): 9%
  • Beta of ABC stock (βABC_{\text{ABC}}): 1.3
  • Beta of XYZ stock (βXYZ_{\text{XYZ}}): -0.2
  • Portfolio Weights: 50% in ABC, 50% in XYZ

Step 1: Calculate the Portfolio Beta

The portfolio beta (βportfolio_{\text{portfolio}}) is the weighted average of the individual betas:

βportfolio=(0.5×1.3)+(0.5×0.2)\beta_{\text{portfolio}} = (0.5 \times 1.3) + (0.5 \times -0.2)

βportfolio=0.650.1=0.55\beta_{\text{portfolio}} = 0.65 - 0.1 = 0.55

Step 2: Calculate the Expected Return of the Portfolio

Using the CAPM formula with the portfolio beta:

Expected Returnportfolio=Risk-Free Rate+βportfolio×Market Risk Premium\text{Expected Return}_{\text{portfolio}} = \text{Risk-Free Rate} + \beta_{\text{portfolio}} \times \text{Market Risk Premium}

Expected Returnportfolio=3%+(0.55×9%)\text{Expected Return}_{\text{portfolio}} = 3\% + (0.55 \times 9\%)

Expected Returnportfolio=3%+4.95%=7.95%\text{Expected Return}_{\text{portfolio}} = 3\% + 4.95\% = 7.95\%

Conclusion

The expected return on the portfolio is 7.95%.

Would you like further details or have any questions?


Here are five related questions to explore:

  1. What would happen to the portfolio return if the weight in ABC stock increased to 70%?
  2. How would the portfolio beta change if both stocks had positive betas?
  3. What does a negative beta mean, and how does it affect portfolio risk?
  4. How would the expected return change if the market risk premium increased to 10

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Portfolio Management
Beta
Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
Expected Return

Formulas

Expected Return = Risk-Free Rate + Beta * Market Risk Premium
Portfolio Beta = Weight1 * Beta1 + Weight2 * Beta2

Theorems

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate Finance/Business Students