Corporate Finance A Focused Approach 5th Edition By Ehrhardt, Michael C. - Test Bnak

Corporate Finance A Focused Approach 5th Edition By Ehrhardt, Michael C. – Test Bnak

Instant Download – Complete Test Bank With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

CHAPTER 6—RISK AND RETURN

TRUE/FALSE

The tighter the probability distribution of its expected future returns, the greater the risk of a given investment as measured by its standard deviation.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Standard deviation KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Risk-averse investors require higher rates of return on investments whose returns are highly uncertain, and most investors are risk averse.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

When adding a randomly chosen new stock to an existing portfolio, the higher (or more positive) the degree of correlation between the new stock and stocks already in the portfolio, the less the additional stock will reduce the portfolio’s risk.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Diversification will normally reduce the riskiness of a portfolio of stocks.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

In portfolio analysis, we often use ex post (historical) returns and standard deviations, despite the fact that we are really interested in ex ante (future) data.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

The realized return on a stock portfolio is the weighted average of the expected returns on the stocks in the portfolio.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio return KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Market risk refers to the tendency of a stock to move with the general stock market. A stock with above-average market risk will tend to be more volatile than an average stock, and its beta will be greater than 1.0.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

An individual stock’s diversifiable risk, which is measured by its beta, can be lowered by adding more stocks to the portfolio in which the stock is held.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Managers should under no conditions take actions that increase their firm’s risk relative to the market, regardless of how much those actions would increase the firm’s expected rate of return.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk and expected returns KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

One key conclusion of the Capital Asset Pricing Model is that the value of an asset should be measured by considering both the risk and the expected return of the asset, assuming that the asset is held in a well-diversified portfolio. The risk of the asset held in isolation is not relevant under the CAPM.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

According to the Capital Asset Pricing Model, investors are primarily concerned with portfolio risk, not the risks of individual stocks held in isolation. Thus, the relevant risk of a stock is the stock’s contribution to the riskiness of a well-diversified portfolio.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and risk KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

If investors become less averse to risk, the slope of the Security Market Line (SML) will increase.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML and risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

If a stock’s expected return as seen by the marginal investor exceeds this investor’s required return, then the investor will buy the stock until its price has risen enough to bring the expected return down to equal the required return.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Stock market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

If a stock’s market price exceeds its intrinsic value as seen by the marginal investor, then the investor will sell the stock until its price has fallen down to the level of the investor’s estimate of the intrinsic value.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Stock market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

For a stock to be in equilibrium, two conditions are necessary: (1) The stock’s market price must equal its intrinsic value as seen by the marginal investor and (2) the expected return as seen by the marginal investor must equal this investor’s required return.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Stock market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Two conditions are used to determine whether or not a stock is in equilibrium: (1) Does the stock’s market price equal its intrinsic value as seen by the marginal investor, and (2) does the expected return on the stock as seen by the marginal investor equal this investor’s required return? If either of these conditions, but not necessarily both, holds, then the stock is said to be in equilibrium.

ANS: F

If one condition holds, then the other must also hold.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Stock market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

Variance is a measure of the variability of returns, and since it involves squaring the deviation of each actual return from the expected return, it is always larger than its square root, its standard deviation.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Variance KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

“Risk aversion” implies that investors require higher expected returns on riskier than on less risky securities.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If investors are risk averse and hold only one stock, we can conclude that the required rate of return on a stock whose standard deviation is 0.21 will be greater than the required return on a stock whose standard deviation is 0.10. However, if stocks are held in portfolios, it is possible that the required return could be higher on the stock with the low standard deviation.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Someone who is risk averse has a general dislike for risk and a preference for certainty. If risk aversion exists in the market, then investors in general are willing to accept somewhat lower returns on less risky securities. Different investors have different degrees of risk aversion, and the end result is that investors with greater risk aversion tend to hold securities with lower risk (and therefore a lower expected return) than investors who have more tolerance for risk.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk prem. and risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

A stock’s beta measures its diversifiable risk relative to the diversifiable risks of other firms.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

A stock’s beta is more relevant as a measure of risk to an investor who holds only one stock than to an investor who holds a well-diversified portfolio.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If the returns of two firms are negatively correlated, then one of them must have a negative beta.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

A stock with a beta equal to -1.0 has zero systematic (or market) risk.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

It is possible for a firm to have a positive beta, even if the correlation between its returns and those of another firm is negative.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Portfolio A has but one security, while Portfolio B has 100 securities. Because of diversification effects, we would expect Portfolio B to have the lower risk. However, it is possible for Portfolio A to be less risky.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Portfolio A has but one stock, while Portfolio B consists of all stocks that trade in the market, each held in proportion to its market value. Because of its diversification, Portfolio B will by definition be riskless.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

A portfolio’s risk is measured by the weighted average of the standard deviations of the securities in the portfolio. It is this aspect of portfolios that allows investors to combine stocks and thus reduce the riskiness of their portfolios.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The distributions of rates of return for Companies AA and BB are given below:

State of the	Probability of
Economy	This State Occurring	AA	BB
Boom	0.2	30%	-10%
Normal	0.6	10%	5%
Recession	0.2	-5%	50%

We can conclude from the above information that any rational, risk-averse investor would be better off adding Security AA to a well-diversified portfolio over Security BB.

ANS: F

The stocks have the same expected returns, but BB does badly in booms and well in recessions. Therefore, it would do more to reduce risk.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-2

NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Even if the correlation between the returns on two securities is +1.0, if the securities are combined in the correct proportions, the resulting 2-asset portfolio will have less risk than either security held alone.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Cor. coefficient and risk KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Bad managerial judgments or unforeseen negative events that happen to a firm are defined as “company-specific,” or “unsystematic,” events, and their effects on investment risk can in theory be diversified away.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Company-specific risk KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

We would generally find that the beta of a single security is more stable over time than the beta of a diversified portfolio.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

We would almost always find that the beta of a diversified portfolio is less stable over time than the beta of a single security.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If an investor buys enough stocks, he or she can, through diversification, eliminate all of the market risk inherent in owning stocks, but as a general rule it will not be possible to eliminate all diversifiable risk.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Diversification effects KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The CAPM is built on historic conditions, although in most cases we use expected future data in applying it. Because betas used in the CAPM are calculated using expected future data, they are not subject to changes in future volatility. This is one of the strengths of the CAPM.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-11 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Under the CAPM, the required rate of return on a firm’s common stock is determined only by the firm’s market risk. If its market risk is known, and if that risk is expected to remain constant, then analysts have all the information they need to calculate the firm’s required rate of return.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Required return KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

A firm can change its beta through managerial decisions, including capital budgeting and capital structure decisions.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Changes in beta KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Any change in its beta is likely to affect the required rate of return on a stock, which implies that a change in beta will likely have an impact on the stock’s price, other things held constant.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Changes in beta KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The slope of the SML is determined by the value of beta.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The slope of the SML is determined by investors’ aversion to risk. The greater the average investor’s risk aversion, the steeper the SML.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If you plotted the returns of a company against those of the market and found that the slope of your line was negative, the CAPM would indicate that the required rate of return on the stock should be less than the risk-free rate for a well-diversified investor, assuming that the observed relationship is expected to continue in the future.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If you plotted the returns on a given stock against those of the market, and if you found that the slope of the regression line was negative, the CAPM would indicate that the required rate of return on the stock should be greater than the risk-free rate for a well-diversified investor, assuming that the observed relationship is expected to continue into the future.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The Y-axis intercept of the SML represents the required return of a portfolio with a beta of zero, which is the risk-free rate.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The SML relates required returns to firms’ systematic (or market) risk. The slope and intercept of this line can be influenced by a manager’s actions.

ANS: F

The slope and intercept of the SML are determined by the market, generally not the actions of a single firm. However, managers can influence their firms’ beta, and thus their firms’ required returns.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The Y-axis intercept of the SML indicates the required return on an individual asset whenever the realized return on an average (b = 1) stock is zero.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

If the price of money (e.g., interest rates and equity capital costs) increases due to an increase in anticipated inflation, the risk-free rate will also increase. If there is no change in investors’ risk aversion, then the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) will remain constant. Also, if there is no change in stocks’ betas, then the required rate of return on each stock as measured by the CAPM will increase by the same amount as the increase in expected inflation.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and inflation KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Since the market return represents the expected return on an average stock, the market return reflects a certain amount of risk. As a result, there exists a market risk premium, which is the amount over and above the risk-free rate, that is required to compensate stock investors for assuming an average amount of risk.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk premium KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

Assume that two investors each hold a portfolio, and that portfolio is their only asset. Investor A’s portfolio has a beta of minus 2.0, while Investor B’s portfolio has a beta of plus 2.0. Assuming that the unsystematic risks of the stocks in the two portfolios are the same, then the two investors face the same amount of risk. However, the holders of either portfolio could lower their risks, and by exactly the same amount, by adding some “normal” stocks with beta = 1.0.

ANS: T

Both portfolios would be twice as risky as a portfolio of average stocks. Their risks would decline if they added b = 1.0 stocks, as those stocks would move the portfolios’ betas toward 1.0.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

The CAPM is a multi-period model that takes account of differences in securities’ maturities, and it can be used to determine the required rate of return for any given level of systematic risk.

ANS: F

The CAPM is a single-period model, and it does not take account of securities’ maturities.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

MULTIPLE CHOICE

If markets are in equilibrium, which of the following conditions will exist?

a.	Each stock’s expected return should equal its required return as seen by the marginal investor.
b.	All stocks should have the same expected return as seen by the marginal investor.
c.	The expected and required returns on stocks and bonds should be equal.
d.	All stocks should have the same realized return during the coming year.
e.	Each stock’s expected return should equal its realized return as seen by the marginal investor.

ANS: A

Statement a is true, because if the expected return does not equal the required return, then markets are not in equilibrium.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

NOT: Question may require calculations to find the correct answer.

You are considering investing in one of the these three stocks:

Stock	Standard Deviation	Beta
A	20%	0.59
B	10%	0.61
C	12%	1.29

If you are a strict risk minimizer, you would choose Stock ____ if it is to be held in isolation and Stock ____ if it is to be held as part of a well-diversified portfolio.

a.	A; B.
b.	B; A.
c.	C; A.
d.	C; B.
e.	A; A.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Your friend is considering adding one additional stock to a 3-stock portfolio, to form a 4-stock portfolio. She is highly risk averse and has asked for your advice. The three stocks currently held all have b = 1.0, and they are perfectly positively correlated with the market. Potential new Stocks A and B both have expected returns of 15%, are in equilibrium, and are equally correlated with the market, with r = 0.75. However, Stock A’s standard deviation of returns is 12% versus 8% for Stock B. Which stock should this investor add to his or her portfolio, or does the choice not matter?

a.	Stock A.
b.	Stock B.
c.	Neither A nor B, as neither has a return sufficient to compensate for risk.
d.	Add A, since its beta must be lower.
e.	Either A or B, i.e., the investor should be indifferent between the two.

ANS: B

With only 4 stocks in the portfolio, unsystematic risk matters, and B has less.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-6

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Standard deviation KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following is NOT a potential problem when estimating and using betas, i.e., which statement is FALSE?

a.	Sometimes, during a period when the company is undergoing a change such as toward more leverage or riskier assets, the calculated beta will be drastically different from the “true” or “expected future” beta.
b.	The beta of an “average stock,” or “the market,” can change over time, sometimes drastically.
c.	Sometimes the past data used to calculate beta do not reflect the likely risk of the firm for the future because conditions have changed.
d.	All of the statements above are true.
e.	The fact that a security or project may not have a past history that can be used as the basis for calculating beta.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A’s beta is 1.7 and Stock B’s beta is 0.7. Which of the following statements must be true about these securities? (Assume market equilibrium.)

a.	Stock B must be a more desirable addition to a portfolio than A.
b.	Stock A must be a more desirable addition to a portfolio than B.
c.	The expected return on Stock A should be greater than that on B.
d.	The expected return on Stock B should be greater than that on A.
e.	When held in isolation, Stock A has more risk than Stock B.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If you found a stock with a zero historical beta and held it as the only stock in your portfolio, you would by definition have a riskless portfolio.
b.	The beta coefficient of a stock is normally found by regressing past returns on a stock against past market returns. One could also construct a scatter diagram of returns on the stock versus those on the market, estimate the slope of the line of best fit, and use it as beta. However, this historical beta may differ from the beta that exists in the future.
c.	The beta of a portfolio of stocks is always larger than the betas of any of the individual stocks.
d.	It is theoretically possible for a stock to have a beta of 1.0. If a stock did have a beta of 1.0, then, at least in theory, its required rate of return would be equal to the risk-free (default-free) rate of return, r_RF.
e.	The beta of a portfolio of stocks is always smaller than the betas of any of the individual stocks.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Suppose the returns on two stocks are negatively correlated. One has a beta of 1.2 as determined in a regression analysis using data for the last 5 years, while the other has a beta of -0.6. The returns on the stock with the negative beta must have been negatively correlated with returns on most other stocks during that 5-year period.
b.	Suppose you are managing a stock portfolio, and you have information that leads you to believe the stock market is likely to be very strong in the immediate future. That is, you are convinced that the market is about to rise sharply. You should sell your high-beta stocks and buy low-beta stocks in order to take advantage of the expected market move.
c.	You think that investor sentiment is about to change, and investors are about to become more risk averse. This suggests that you should re-balance your portfolio to include more high-beta stocks.
d.	If the market risk premium remains constant, but the risk-free rate declines, then the required returns on low-beta stocks will rise while those on high-beta stocks will decline.
e.	Paid-in-Full Inc. is in the business of collecting past-due accounts for other companies, i.e., it is a collection agency. Paid-in-Full’s revenues, profits, and stock price tend to rise during recessions. This suggests that Paid-in-Full Inc.’s beta should be quite high, say 2.0, because it does so much better than most other companies when the economy is weak.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Logically, it is easier to estimate the betas associated with capital budgeting projects than the betas associated with stocks, especially if the projects are closely associated with research and development activities.
b.	The beta of an “average stock,” which is also “the market beta,” can change over time, sometimes drastically.
c.	If a newly issued stock does not have a past history that can be used for calculating beta, then we should always estimate that its beta will turn out to be 1.0. This is especially true if the company finances with more debt than the average firm.
d.	During a period when a company is undergoing a change such as increasing its use of leverage or taking on riskier projects, the calculated historical beta may be drastically different from the beta that will exist in the future.
e.	If a company with a high beta merges with a low-beta company, the best estimate of the new merged company’s beta is 1.0.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A’s beta is 1.7 and Stock B’s beta is 0.7. Which of the following statements must be true, assuming the CAPM is correct.

a.	In equilibrium, the expected return on Stock B will be greater than that on Stock A.
b.	When held in isolation, Stock A has more risk than Stock B.
c.	Stock B would be a more desirable addition to a portfolio than A.
d.	In equilibrium, the expected return on Stock A will be greater than that on B.
e.	Stock A would be a more desirable addition to a portfolio then Stock B.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock X has a beta of 0.7 and Stock Y has a beta of 1.7. Which of the following statements must be true, according to the CAPM?

a.	Stock Y’s realized return during the coming year will be higher than Stock X’s return.
b.	If the expected rate of inflation increases but the market risk premium is unchanged, the required returns on the two stocks should increase by the same amount.
c.	Stock Y’s return has a higher standard deviation than Stock X.
d.	If the market risk premium declines, but the risk-free rate is unchanged, Stock X will have a larger decline in its required return than will Stock Y.
e.	If you invest $50,000 in Stock X and $50,000 in Stock Y, your 2-stock portfolio would have a beta significantly lower than 1.0, provided the returns on the two stocks are not perfectly correlated.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Consider the following average annual returns for Stocks A and B and the Market. Which of the possible answers best describes the historical betas for A and B?

Years	Market	Stock A	Stock B
1	0.03	0.16	0.05
2	-0.05	0.20	0.05
3	0.01	0.18	0.05
4	-0.10	0.25	0.05
5	0.06	0.14	0.05

a.	b_A > +1; b_B = 0.
b.	b_A = 0; b_B = -1.
c.	b_A < 0; b_B = 0.
d.	b_A < -1; b_B = 1.
e.	b_A > 0; b_B = 1.

ANS: C

First, note that B’s beta must be zero, so either a or c must be correct. Second, note that A’s returns are highest when the market’s returns are negative and lowest when the market’s returns are positive. This indicates that A’s beta is negative. Thus, c must be correct.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Beta coefficients KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The higher the correlation between the stocks in a portfolio, the lower the risk inherent in the portfolio.
b.	An investor can eliminate almost all risk if he or she holds a very large and well diversified portfolio of stocks.
c.	Once a portfolio has about 40 stocks, adding additional stocks will not reduce its risk by even a small amount.
d.	An investor can eliminate almost all diversifiable risk if he or she holds a very large, well-diversified portfolio of stocks.
e.	An investor can eliminate almost all market risk if he or she holds a very large and well diversified portfolio of stocks.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If you were restricted to investing in publicly traded common stocks, yet you wanted to minimize the riskiness of your portfolio as measured by its beta, then according to the CAPM theory you should invest an equal amount of money in each stock in the market. That is, if there were 10,000 traded stocks in the world, the least risky possible portfolio would include some shares of each one.
b.	If you formed a portfolio that consisted of all stocks with betas less than 1.0, which is about half of all stocks, the portfolio would itself have a beta coefficient that is equal to the weighted average beta of the stocks in the portfolio, and that portfolio would have less risk than a portfolio that consisted of all stocks in the market.
c.	Market risk can be eliminated by forming a large portfolio, and if some Treasury bonds are held in the portfolio, the portfolio can be made to be completely riskless.
d.	A portfolio that consists of all stocks in the market would have a required return that is equal to the riskless rate.
e.	If you add enough randomly selected stocks to a portfolio, you can completely eliminate all of the market risk from the portfolio.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Recession, inflation, and high interest rates are economic events that are best characterized as being

a.	company-specific risk factors that can be diversified away.
b.	among the factors that are responsible for market risk.
c.	risks that are beyond the control of investors and thus should not be considered by security analysts or portfolio managers.
d.	irrelevant except to governmental authorities like the Federal Reserve.
e.	systematic risk factors that can be diversified away.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If an investor buys enough stocks, he or she can, through diversification, eliminate all of the diversifiable risk inherent in owning stocks. Therefore, if a portfolio contained all publicly traded stocks, it would be essentially riskless.
b.	The required return on a firm’s common stock is, in theory, determined solely by its market risk. If the market risk is known, and if that risk is expected to remain constant, then no other information is required to specify the firm’s required return.
c.	Portfolio diversification reduces the variability of returns (as measured by the standard deviation) of each individual stock held in a portfolio.
d.	A security’s beta measures its non-diversifiable, or market, risk relative to that of an average stock.
e.	A stock’s beta is less relevant as a measure of risk to an investor with a well-diversified portfolio than to an investor who holds only that one stock.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk and port. divers. KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Diversifiable risk can be reduced by forming a large portfolio, but normally even highly-diversified portfolios are subject to market (or systematic) risk.
b.	A large portfolio of randomly selected stocks will have a standard deviation of returns that is greater than the standard deviation of a 1-stock portfolio if that one stock has a beta less than 1.0.
c.	A large portfolio of stocks whose betas are greater than 1.0 will have less market risk than a single stock with a beta = 0.8.
d.	If you add enough randomly selected stocks to a portfolio, you can completely eliminate all of the market risk from the portfolio.
e.	A large portfolio of randomly selected stocks will always have a standard deviation of returns that is less than the standard deviation of a portfolio with fewer stocks, regardless of how the stocks in the smaller portfolio are selected.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk and port. divers. KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	A portfolio that consists of 40 stocks that are not highly correlated with “the market” will probably be less risky than a portfolio of 40 stocks that are highly correlated with the market, assuming the stocks all have the same standard deviations.
b.	A two-stock portfolio will always have a lower beta than a one-stock portfolio.
c.	If portfolios are formed by randomly selecting stocks, a 10-stock portfolio will always have a lower beta than a one-stock portfolio.
d.	A stock with an above-average standard deviation must also have an above-average beta.
e.	A two-stock portfolio will always have a lower standard deviation than a one-stock portfolio.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-5 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk, return, and beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Consider the following information for three stocks, A, B, and C. The stocks’ returns are positively but not perfectly positively correlated with one another, i.e., the correlations are all between 0 and 1.

	Expected	Standard
Stock	Return	Deviation	Beta
A	10%	20%	1.0
B	10%	10%	1.0
C	12%	12%	1.4

Portfolio AB has half of its funds invested in Stock A and half in Stock B. Portfolio ABC has one third of its funds invested in each of the three stocks. The risk-free rate is 5%, and the market is in equilibrium, so required returns equal expected returns. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Portfolio AB’s coefficient of variation is greater than 2.0.
b.	Portfolio AB’s required return is greater than the required return on Stock A.
c.	Portfolio ABC’s expected return is 10.66667%.
d.	Portfolio ABC has a standard deviation of 20%.
e.	Portfolio AB has a standard deviation of 20%.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk concepts KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	A portfolio with a large number of randomly selected stocks would have more market risk than a single stock that has a beta of 0.5, assuming that the stock’s beta was correctly calculated and is stable.
b.	If a stock has a negative beta, its expected return must be negative.
c.	A portfolio with a large number of randomly selected stocks would have less market risk than a single stock that has a beta of 0.5.
d.	According to the CAPM, stocks with higher standard deviations of returns must also have higher expected returns.
e.	If the returns on two stocks are perfectly positively correlated (i.e., the correlation coefficient is +1.0) and these stocks have identical standard deviations, an equally weighted portfolio of the two stocks will have a standard deviation that is less than that of the individual stocks.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. return, CAPM, and beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following is most likely to be true for a portfolio of 40 randomly selected stocks?

a.	The riskiness of the portfolio is the same as the riskiness of each stock if it was held in isolation.
b.	The beta of the portfolio is less than the average of the betas of the individual stocks.
c.	The beta of the portfolio is equal to the average of the betas of the individual stocks.
d.	The beta of the portfolio is larger than the average of the betas of the individual stocks.
e.	The riskiness of the portfolio is greater than the riskiness of each of the stocks if each was held in isolation.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-6 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

If you randomly select stocks and add them to your portfolio, which of the following statements best describes what you should expect?

a.	Adding more such stocks will increase the portfolio’s expected rate of return.
b.	Adding more such stocks will reduce the portfolio’s beta coefficient and thus its systematic risk.
c.	Adding more such stocks will have no effect on the portfolio’s risk.
d.	Adding more such stocks will reduce the portfolio’s market risk but not its unsystematic risk.
e.	Adding more such stocks will reduce the portfolio’s unsystematic, or diversifiable, risk.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Charlie and Lucinda each have $50,000 invested in stock portfolios. Charlie’s has a beta of 1.2, an expected return of 10.8%, and a standard deviation of 25%. Lucinda’s has a beta of 0.8, an expected return of 9.2%, and a standard deviation that is also 25%. The correlation coefficient, r, between Charlie’s and Lucinda’s portfolios is zero. If Charlie and Lucinda marry and combine their portfolios, which of the following best describes their combined $100,000 portfolio?

a.	The combined portfolio’s beta will be equal to a simple weighted average of the betas of the two individual portfolios, 1.0; its expected return will be equal to a simple weighted average of the expected returns of the two individual portfolios, 10.0%; and its standard deviation will be less than the simple average of the two portfolios’ standard deviations, 25%.
b.	The combined portfolio’s expected return will be greater than the simple weighted average of the expected returns of the two individual portfolios, 10.0%.
c.	The combined portfolio’s standard deviation will be greater than the simple average of the two portfolios’ standard deviations, 25%.
d.	The combined portfolio’s standard deviation will be equal to a simple average of the two portfolios’ standard deviations, 25%.
e.	The combined portfolio’s expected return will be less than the simple weighted average of the expected returns of the two individual portfolios, 10.0%.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

The two stocks in your portfolio, X and Y, have independent returns, so the correlation between them, r_XY is zero. Your portfolio consists of $50,000 invested in Stock X and $50,000 invested in Stock Y. Both stocks have an expected return of 15%, betas of 1.6, and standard deviations of 30%. Which of the following statements best describes the characteristics of your 2-stock portfolio?

a.	Your portfolio has a standard deviation less than 30%, and its beta is greater than 1.6.
b.	Your portfolio has a beta equal to 1.6, and its expected return is 15%.
c.	Your portfolio has a beta greater than 1.6, and its expected return is greater than 15%.
d.	Your portfolio has a standard deviation greater than 30% and a beta equal to 1.6.
e.	Your portfolio has a standard deviation of 30%, and its expected return is 15%.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following is most likely to occur as you add randomly selected stocks to your portfolio, which currently consists of 3 average stocks?

a.	The expected return of your portfolio is likely to decline.
b.	The diversifiable risk will remain the same, but the market risk will likely decline.
c.	Both the diversifiable risk and the market risk of your portfolio are likely to decline.
d.	The total risk of your portfolio should decline, and as a result, the expected rate of return on the portfolio should also decline.
e.	The diversifiable risk of your portfolio will likely decline, but the expected market risk should not change.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Ann has a portfolio of 20 average stocks, and Tom has a portfolio of 2 average stocks. Assuming the market is in equilibrium, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return on Ann’s portfolio will be lower than that on Tom’s portfolio because Ann’s portfolio will have less total risk.
b.	Tom’s portfolio will have more diversifiable risk, the same market risk, and thus more total risk than Ann’s portfolio, but the required (and expected) returns will be the same on both portfolios.
c.	If the two portfolios have the same beta, their required returns will be the same, but Ann’s portfolio will have less market risk than Tom’s.
d.	The expected return on Jane’s portfolio must be lower than the expected return on Dick’s portfolio because Jane is more diversified.
e.	Ann’s portfolio will have less diversifiable risk and also less market risk than Tom’s portfolio.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stocks A and B are quite similar: Each has an expected return of 12%, a beta of 1.2, and a standard deviation of 25%. The returns on the two stocks have a correlation of 0.6. Portfolio P has 50% in Stock A and 50% in Stock B. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Portfolio P has a standard deviation that is greater than 25%.
b.	Portfolio P has an expected return that is less than 12%.
c.	Portfolio P has a standard deviation that is less than 25%.
d.	Portfolio P has a beta that is less than 1.2.
e.	Portfolio P has a beta that is greater than 1.2.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stocks A, B, and C are similar in some respects: Each has an expected return of 10% and a standard deviation of 25%. Stocks A and B have returns that are independent of one another; i.e., their correlation coefficient, r, equals zero. Stocks A and C have returns that are negatively correlated with one another; i.e., r is less than 0. Portfolio AB is a portfolio with half of its money invested in Stock A and half in Stock B. Portfolio AC is a portfolio with half of its money invested in Stock A and half invested in Stock C. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Portfolio AC has an expected return that is greater than 25%.
b.	Portfolio AB has a standard deviation that is greater than 25%.
c.	Portfolio AB has a standard deviation that is equal to 25%.
d.	Portfolio AC has a standard deviation that is less than 25%.
e.	Portfolio AC has an expected return that is less than 10%.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stocks A and B each have an expected return of 15%, a standard deviation of 20%, and a beta of 1.2. The returns on the two stocks have a correlation coefficient of +0.6. Your portfolio consists of 50% A and 50% B. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The portfolio’s expected return is 15%.
b.	The portfolio’s standard deviation is greater than 20%.
c.	The portfolio’s beta is greater than 1.2.
d.	The portfolio’s standard deviation is 20%.
e.	The portfolio’s beta is less than 1.2.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A has a beta of 0.8, Stock B has a beta of 1.0, and Stock C has a beta of 1.2. Portfolio P has 1/3 of its value invested in each stock. Each stock has a standard deviation of 25%, and their returns are independent of one another, i.e., the correlation coefficients between each pair of stocks is zero. Assuming the market is in equilibrium, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Portfolio P’s expected return is equal to the expected return on Stock A.
b.	Portfolio P’s expected return is less than the expected return on Stock B.
c.	Portfolio P’s expected return is equal to the expected return on Stock B.
d.	Portfolio P’s expected return is greater than the expected return on Stock C.
e.	Portfolio P’s expected return is greater than the expected return on Stock B.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

In a portfolio of three randomly selected stocks, which of the following could NOT be true; i.e., which statement is false?

a.	The standard deviation of the portfolio is greater than the standard deviation of one or two of the stocks.
b.	The beta of the portfolio is lower than the lowest of the three betas.
c.	The beta of the portfolio is equal to one of the three stock’s betas.
d.	The beta of the portfolio is equal to 1.
e.	The standard deviation of the portfolio is less than the standard deviation of each of the stocks if they were held in isolation.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk and return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A has a beta = 0.8, while Stock B has a beta = 1.6. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If the marginal investor becomes more risk averse, the required return on Stock B will increase by more than the required return on Stock A.
b.	An equally weighted portfolio of Stocks A and B will have a beta lower than 1.2.
c.	If the marginal investor becomes more risk averse, the required return on Stock A will increase by more than the required return on Stock B.
d.	If the risk-free rate increases but the market risk premium remains constant, the required return on Stock A will increase by more than that on Stock B.
e.	Stock B’s required return is double that of Stock A’s.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A has an expected return of 12%, a beta of 1.2, and a standard deviation of 20%. Stock B also has a beta of 1.2, but its expected return is 10% and its standard deviation is 15%. Portfolio AB has $300,000 invested in Stock A and $100,000 invested in Stock B. The correlation between the two stocks’ returns is zero (that is, r_A,B = 0). Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The stocks are not in equilibrium based on the CAPM; if A is valued correctly, then B is overvalued.
b.	The stocks are not in equilibrium based on the CAPM; if A is valued correctly, then B is undervalued.
c.	Portfolio AB’s expected return is 11.0%.
d.	Portfolio AB’s beta is less than 1.2.
e.	Portfolio AB’s standard deviation is 17.5%.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

You have a portfolio P that consists of 50% Stock X and 50% Stock Y. Stock X has a beta of 0.7 and Stock Y has a beta of 1.3. The standard deviation of each stock’s returns is 20%. The stocks’ returns are independent of each other, i.e., the correlation coefficient, r, between them is zero. Given this information, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return on Portfolio P is equal to the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF).
b.	Portfolio P has a beta of 0.7.
c.	Portfolio P has a beta of 1.0 and a required return that is equal to the riskless rate, r_RF.
d.	Portfolio P has the same required return as the market (r_M).
e.	Portfolio P has a standard deviation of 20%.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT? (Assume that the risk-free rate is a constant.)

a.	The effect of a change in the market risk premium depends on the slope of the yield curve.
b.	If the market risk premium increases by 1%, then the required return on all stocks will rise by 1%.
c.	If the market risk premium increases by 1%, then the required return will increase by 1% for a stock that has a beta of 1.0.
d.	The effect of a change in the market risk premium depends on the level of the risk-free rate.
e.	If the market risk premium increases by 1%, then the required return will increase for stocks that have a beta greater than 1.0, but it will decrease for stocks that have a beta less than 1.0.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk premium KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

In historical data, we see that investments with the highest average annual returns also tend to have the highest standard deviations of annual returns. This observation supports the notion that there is a positive correlation between risk and return. Which of the following answers correctly ranks investments from highest to lowest risk (and return), where the security with the highest risk is shown first, the one with the lowest risk last?

a.	Large-company stocks, small-company stocks, long-term corporate bonds, U.S. Treasury bills, long-term government bonds.
b.	Small-company stocks, large-company stocks, long-term corporate bonds, long-term government bonds, U.S. Treasury bills.
c.	U.S. Treasury bills, long-term government bonds, long-term corporate bonds, small-company stocks, large-company stocks.
d.	Large-company stocks, small-company stocks, long-term corporate bonds, long-term government bonds, U.S. Treasury bills.
e.	Small-company stocks, long-term corporate bonds, large-company stocks, long-term government bonds, U.S. Treasury bills.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Suppose that during the coming year, the risk free rate, r_RF, is expected to remain the same, while the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF), is expected to fall. Given this forecast, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return on all stocks will remain unchanged.
b.	The required return will fall for all stocks, but it will fall more for stocks with higher betas.
c.	The required return for all stocks will fall by the same amount.
d.	The required return will fall for all stocks, but it will fall less for stocks with higher betas.
e.	The required return will increase for stocks with a beta less than 1.0 and will decrease for stocks with a beta greater than 1.0.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

The risk-free rate is 6%; Stock A has a beta of 1.0; Stock B has a beta of 2.0; and the market risk premium, r_M – r_RF, is positive. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Stock B’s required rate of return is twice that of Stock A.
b.	If Stock A’s required return is 11%, then the market risk premium is 5%.
c.	If Stock B’s required return is 11%, then the market risk premium is 5%.
d.	If the risk-free rate remains constant but the market risk premium increases, Stock A’s required return will increase by more than Stock B’s.
e.	If the risk-free rate increases but the market risk premium stays unchanged, Stock B’s required return will increase by more than Stock A’s.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that in recent years both expected inflation and the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) have declined. Assume also that all stocks have positive betas. Which of the following would be most likely to have occurred as a result of these changes?

a.	The required returns on all stocks have fallen, but the fall has been greater for stocks with higher betas.
b.	The average required return on the market, r_M, has remained constant, but the required returns have fallen for stocks that have betas greater than 1.0.
c.	Required returns have increased for stocks with betas greater than 1.0 but have declined for stocks with betas less than 1.0.
d.	The required returns on all stocks have fallen by the same amount.
e.	The required returns on all stocks have fallen, but the decline has been greater for stocks with lower betas.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that the risk-free rate is 5%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If a stock’s beta doubled, its required return under the CAPM would also double.
b.	If a stock’s beta doubled, its required return under the CAPM would more than double.
c.	If a stock’s beta were 1.0, its required return under the CAPM would be 5%.
d.	If a stock’s beta were less than 1.0, its required return under the CAPM would be less than 5%.
e.	If a stock has a negative beta, its required return under the CAPM would be less than 5%.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock LB has a beta of 0.5 and Stock HB has a beta of 1.5. The market is in equilibrium, with required returns equaling expected returns. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If both expected inflation and the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) increase, the required return on Stock HB will increase by more than that on Stock LB.
b.	If both expected inflation and the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) increase, the required returns of both stocks will increase by the same amount.
c.	Since the market is in equilibrium, the required returns of the two stocks should be the same.
d.	If expected inflation remains constant but the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) declines, the required return of Stock HB will decline but the required return of Stock LB will increase.
e.	If expected inflation remains constant but the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) declines, the required return of Stock LB will decline but the required return of Stock HB will increase.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Portfolio P has equal amounts invested in each of the three stocks, A, B, and C. Stock A has a beta of 0.8, Stock B has a beta of 1.0, and Stock C has a beta of 1.2. Each of the stocks has a standard deviation of 25%. The returns on the three stocks are independent of one another (i.e., the correlation coefficients all equal zero). Assume that there is an increase in the market risk premium, but the risk-free rate remains unchanged. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return on Stock A will increase by less than the increase in the market risk premium, while the required return on Stock C will increase by more than the increase in the market risk premium.
b.	The required return on the average stock will remain unchanged, but the returns of riskier stocks (such as Stock C) will increase while the returns of safer stocks (such as Stock A) will decrease.
c.	The required returns on all three stocks will increase by the amount of the increase in the market risk premium.
d.	The required return on the average stock will remain unchanged, but the returns on riskier stocks (such as Stock C) will decrease while the returns on safer stocks (such as Stock A) will increase.
e.	The required return of all stocks will remain unchanged since there was no change in their betas.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Other things held constant, if investors suddenly become convinced that there will be deflation in the economy, then the required returns on all stocks should increase.
b.	If a company’s beta were cut in half, then its required rate of return would also be halved.
c.	If the risk-free rate rises by 0.5% but the market risk premium declines by that same amount, then the required rates of return on stocks with betas less than 1.0 will decline while returns on stocks with betas above 1.0 will increase.
d.	If the risk-free rate rises by 0.5% but the market risk premium declines by that same amount, then the required rate of return on an average stock will remain unchanged, but required returns on stocks with betas less than 1.0 will rise.
e.	If a company’s beta doubles, then its required rate of return will also double.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM and required return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that the risk-free rate is 6% and the market risk premium is 5%. Given this information, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If a stock has a negative beta, its required return must also be negative.
b.	An index fund with beta = 1.0 should have a required return less than 11%.
c.	If a stock’s beta doubles, its required return must also double.
d.	An index fund with beta = 1.0 should have a required return greater than 11%.
e.	An index fund with beta = 1.0 should have a required return of 11%.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM, beta, and req. return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Lower beta stocks have higher required returns.
b.	A stock’s beta indicates its diversifiable risk.
c.	Diversifiable risk cannot be completely diversified away.
d.	Two securities with the same stand-alone risk must have the same betas.
e.	The slope of the security market line is equal to the market risk premium.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If the risk-free rate rises, then the market risk premium must also rise.
b.	If a company’s beta is halved, then its required return will also be halved.
c.	If a company’s beta doubles, then its required return will also double.
d.	The slope of the security market line is equal to the market risk premium, (r_M – r_RF).
e.	Beta is measured by the slope of the security market line.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Portfolio P has $200,000 consisting of $100,000 invested in Stock A and $100,000 in Stock B. Stock A has a beta of 1.2 and a standard deviation of 20%. Stock B has a beta of 0.8 and a standard deviation of 25%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? (Assume that the stocks are in equilibrium.)

a.	Stock B has a higher required rate of return than Stock A.
b.	Portfolio P has a standard deviation of 22.5%.
c.	More information is needed to determine the portfolio’s beta.
d.	Portfolio P has a beta of 1.0.
e.	Stock A’s returns are less highly correlated with the returns on most other stocks than are B’s returns.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Dixon Food’s stock has a beta of 1.4, while Clark Café’s stock has a beta of 0.7. Assume that the risk-free rate, r_RF, is 5.5% and the market risk premium, (r_M – r_RF), equals 4%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If the market risk premium increases but the risk-free rate remains unchanged, Dixon’s required return will increase because it has a beta greater than 1.0 but Clark’s required return will decline because it has a beta less than 1.0.
b.	Since Dixon’s beta is twice that of Clark’s, its required rate of return will also be twice that of Clark’s.
c.	If the risk-free rate increases while the market risk premium remains constant, then the required return on an average stock will increase.
d.	If the market risk premium decreases but the risk-free rate remains unchanged, Dixon’s required return will decrease because it has a beta greater than 1.0 and Clark’s will also decrease, but by more than Dixon’s because it has a beta less than 1.0.
e.	If the risk-free rate increases but the market risk premium remains unchanged, the required return will increase for both stocks but the increase will be larger for Dixon since it has a higher beta.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock X has a beta of 0.6, while Stock Y has a beta of 1.4. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Stock Y must have a higher expected return and a higher standard deviation than Stock X.
b.	If expected inflation increases but the market risk premium is unchanged, then the required return on both stocks will fall by the same amount.
c.	If the market risk premium declines but expected inflation is unchanged, the required return on both stocks will decrease, but the decrease will be greater for Stock Y.
d.	If expected inflation declines but the market risk premium is unchanged, then the required return on both stocks will decrease but the decrease will be greater for Stock Y.
e.	A portfolio consisting of $50,000 invested in Stock X and $50,000 invested in Stock Y will have a required return that exceeds that of the overall market.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A has a beta of 0.8 and Stock B has a beta of 1.2. 50% of Portfolio P is invested in Stock A and 50% is invested in Stock B. If the market risk premium (r_M – r_RF) were to increase but the risk-free rate (r_RF) remained constant, which of the following would occur?

a.	The required return would decrease by the same amount for both Stock A and Stock B.
b.	The required return would increase for Stock A but decrease for Stock B.
c.	The required return on Portfolio P would remain unchanged.
d.	The required return would increase for Stock B but decrease for Stock A.
e.	The required return would increase for both stocks but the increase would be greater for Stock B than for Stock A.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stock A has a beta of 0.7, whereas Stock B has a beta of 1.3. Portfolio P has 50% invested in both A and B. Which of the following would occur if the market risk premium increased by 1% but the risk-free rate remained constant?

a.	The required return on both stocks would increase by 1%.
b.	The required return on Portfolio P would remain unchanged.
c.	The required return on Stock A would increase by more than 1%, while the return on Stock B would increase by less than 1%.
d.	The required return for Stock A would fall, but the required return for Stock B would increase.
e.	The required return on Portfolio P would increase by 1%.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that the risk-free rate remains constant, but the market risk premium declines. Which of the following is most likely to occur?

a.	The required return on a stock with beta > 1.0 will increase.
b.	The return on “the market” will remain constant.
c.	The return on “the market” will increase.
d.	The required return on a stock with beta < 1.0 will decline.
e.	The required return on a stock with beta = 1.0 will not change.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The SML shows the relationship between companies’ required returns and their diversifiable risks. The slope and intercept of this line cannot be influenced by a firm’s managers, but the position of the company on the line can be influenced by its managers.
b.	Suppose you plotted the returns of a given stock against those of the market, and you found that the slope of the regression line was negative. The CAPM would indicate that the required rate of return on the stock should be less than the risk-free rate for a well-diversified investor, assuming investors expect the observed relationship to continue on into the future.
c.	If investors become less risk averse, the slope of the Security Market Line will increase.
d.	If a company increases its use of debt, this is likely to cause the slope of its SML to increase, indicating a higher required return on the stock.
e.	The slope of the SML is determined by the value of beta.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

How would the Security Market Line be affected, other things held constant, if the expected inflation rate decreases and investors also become more risk averse?

a.	The x-axis intercept would decline, and the slope would increase.
b.	The y-axis intercept would increase, and the slope would decline.
c.	The SML would be affected only if betas changed.
d.	Both the y-axis intercept and the slope would increase, leading to higher required returns.
e.	The y-axis intercept would decline, and the slope would increase.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that the risk-free rate, r_RF, increases but the market risk premium, (r_M – r_RF), declines, with the net effect being that the overall required return on the market, r_M, remains constant. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return will decline for stocks that have a beta less than 1.0 but will increase for stocks that have a beta greater than 1.0.
b.	Since the overall return on the market stays constant, the required return on each individual stock will also remain constant.
c.	The required return will increase for stocks that have a beta less than 1.0 but decline for stocks that have a beta greater than 1.0.
d.	The required return of all stocks will fall by the amount of the decline in the market risk premium.
e.	The required return of all stocks will increase by the amount of the increase in the risk-free rate.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Suppose that Federal Reserve actions have caused an increase in the risk-free rate, r_RF. Meanwhile, investors are afraid of a recession, so the market risk premium, (r_M – r_RF), has increased. Under these conditions, with other things held constant, which of the following statements is most correct?

a.	The required return on all stocks would increase, but the increase would be greatest for stocks with betas of less than 1.0.
b.	Stocks’ required returns would change, but so would expected returns, and the result would be no change in stocks’ prices.
c.	The prices of all stocks would decline, but the decline would be greatest for high-beta stocks.
d.	The prices of all stocks would increase, but the increase would be greatest for high-beta stocks.
e.	The required return on all stocks would increase by the same amount.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The slope of the Security Market Line is beta.
b.	Any stock with a negative beta must in theory have a negative required rate of return, provided r_RF is positive.
c.	If a stock’s beta doubles, its required rate of return must also double.
d.	If a stock’s returns are negatively correlated with returns on most other stocks, the stock’s beta will be negative.
e.	If a stock has a beta of to 1.0, its required rate of return will be unaffected by changes in the market risk premium.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML, CAPM, and beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that investors have recently become more risk averse, so the market risk premium has increased. Also, assume that the risk-free rate and expected inflation have not changed. Which of the following is most likely to occur?

a.	The required rate of return will decline for stocks whose betas are less than 1.0.
b.	The required rate of return on the market, r_M, will not change as a result of these changes.
c.	The required rate of return for each individual stock in the market will increase by an amount equal to the increase in the market risk
d.	The required rate of return on a riskless bond will decline.
e.	The required rate of return for an average stock will increase by an amount equal to the increase in the market risk premium.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML and risk aversion KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The CAPM has been thoroughly tested, and the theory has been confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt.
b.	If two “normal” or “typical” stocks were combined to form a 2-stock portfolio, the portfolio’s expected return would be a weighted average of the stocks’ expected returns, but the portfolio’s standard deviation would probably be greater than the average of the stocks’ standard deviations.
c.	If investors become more risk averse, then (1) the slope of the SML would increase and (2) the required rate of return on low-beta stocks would increase by more than the required return on high-beta stocks.
d.	An increase in expected inflation, combined with a constant real risk-free rate and a constant market risk premium, would lead to identical increases in the required returns on a riskless asset and on an average stock, other things held constant.
e.	A graph of the SML as applied to individual stocks would show required rates of return on the vertical axis and standard deviations of returns on the horizontal axis.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML, CAPM, and port. risk KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

For markets to be in equilibrium, that is, for there to be no strong pressure for prices to depart from their current levels,

a.	The past realized rate of return must be equal to the expected future rate of return; that is, .
b.	The required rate of return must equal the past realized rate of return; that is, r = .
c.	The expected rate of return must be equal to the required rate of return; that is, = r.
d.	All of the above statements must hold for equilibrium to exist; that is = r = .
e.	None of the above statements is correct.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Portfolio diversification reduces the variability of returns on an individual stock.
b.	Risk refers to the chance that some unfavorable event will occur, and a probability distribution is completely described by a listing of the likelihood of unfavorable events.
c.	The SML relates a stock’s required return to its market risk. The slope and intercept of this line cannot be controlled by the firms’ managers, but managers can influence their firms’ positions on the line by such actions as changing the firm’s capital structure or the type of assets it employs.
d.	A stock with a beta of -1.0 has zero market risk if held in a 1-stock portfolio.
e.	When diversifiable risk has been diversified away, the inherent risk that remains is market risk, which is constant for all stocks in the market.

ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk concepts KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

You observe the following information regarding Companies X and Y:

·	Company X has a higher expected return than Company Y.
·	Company X has a lower standard deviation of returns than Company Y.
·	Company X has a higher beta than Company Y.

Given this information, which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Company X has a lower coefficient of variation than Company Y.
b.	Company X has less market risk than Company Y.
c.	Company X’s returns will be negative when Y’s returns are positive.
d.	Company X’s stock is a better buy than Company Y’s stock.
e.	Company X has more diversifiable risk than Company Y.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Risk measures KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Stocks A and B both have an expected return of 10% and a standard deviation of returns of 25%. Stock A has a beta of 0.8 and Stock B has a beta of 1.2. The correlation coefficient, r, between the two stocks is 0.6. Portfolio P has 50% invested in Stock A and 50% invested in B. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Based on the information we are given, and assuming those are the views of the marginal investor, it is apparent that the two stocks are in equilibrium.
b.	Portfolio P has more market risk than Stock A but less market risk than B.
c.	Stock A should have a higher expected return than Stock B as viewed by the marginal investor.
d.	Portfolio P has a coefficient of variation equal to 2.5.
e.	Portfolio P has a standard deviation of 25% and a beta of 1.0.

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

For a stock to be in equilibrium, that is, for there to be no long-term pressure for its price to depart from its current level, then

a.	the past realized return must be equal to the expected return during the same period.
b.	the required return must equal the realized return in all periods.
c.	the expected return must be equal to both the required future return and the past realized return.
d.	the expected future returns must be equal to the required return.
e.	the expected future return must be less than the most recent past realized return.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Stocks and bonds

LOC: TBA TOP: Market equilibrium KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

NOT: Question may require calculations to find the correct answer.

Which of the following are the factors for the Fama-French model?

a.	The excess market return, a debt factor, and a book-to-market factor.
b.	The excess market return, a size factor, and a debt.
c.	A debt factor, a size factor, and a book-to-market factor.
d.	The excess market return, an industrial production factor, and a book-to-market factor.
e.	The excess market return, a size factor, and a book-to-market factor.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate

OBJ: LO: 6-8 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Fama-French model KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Gretta’s portfolio consists of $700,000 invested in a stock that has a beta of 1.2 and $300,000 invested in a stock that has a beta of 0.8. The risk-free rate is 6% and the market risk premium is 5%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	The required return on the market is 10%.
b.	The portfolio’s required return is less than 11%.
c.	If the risk-free rate remains unchanged but the market risk premium increases by 2%, Gretta’s portfolio’s required return will increase by more than 2%.
d.	If the market risk premium remains unchanged but expected inflation increases by 2%, Gretta’s portfolio’s required return will increase by more than 2%.
e.	If the stock market is efficient, Gretta’s portfolio’s expected return should equal the expected return on the market, which is 11%.

ANS: C

c is correct. The portfolio’s beta is 1.08. Therefore, if the market risk premium increases by 2.0% the portfolio’s required return will increase by 2.16%.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Assume that the market is in equilibrium and that Portfolio AB has 50% invested in Stock A and 50% invested in Stock B. Stock A has an expected return of 10% and a standard deviation of 20%. Stock B has an expected return of 13% and a standard deviation of 30%. The risk-free rate is 5% and the market risk premium, r_M – r_RF, is 6%. The returns of Stock A and Stock B are independent of one another, i.e., the correlation coefficient between them is zero. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Since the two stocks have zero correlation, Portfolio AB is riskless.
b.	Stock B’s beta is 1.0000.
c.	Portfolio AB’s required return is 11%.
d.	Portfolio AB’s standard deviation is 25%.
e.	Stock A’s beta is 0.8333.

ANS: E

e is correct. Stock A’s required return is 10% = 5% + b(6%), so b = 5%/6% = 0.83333.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Portfolio AB was created by investing in a combination of Stocks A and B. Stock A has a beta of 1.2 and a standard deviation of 25%. Stock B has a beta of 1.4 and a standard deviation of 20%. Portfolio AB has a beta of 1.25 and a standard deviation of 18%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	Stock A has more market risk than Stock B but less stand-alone risk.
b.	Portfolio AB has more money invested in Stock A than in Stock B.
c.	Portfolio AB has the same amount of money invested in each of the two stocks.
d.	Portfolio AB has more money invested in Stock B than in Stock A.
e.	Stock A has more market risk than Portfolio AB.

ANS: B

b is correct. Beta P = %A(1.2) + %B(1.4) = 1.25. If 50% is in each stock, then we would have Beta P = 0.5(1.2) + 0.5(1.4) = 1.3. But beta P < 1.3, so more money must be invested in the low beta stock, A.

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. risk & ret. relationships KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

a.	If investors become more risk averse but r_RF does not change, then the required rate of return on high-beta stocks will rise and the required return on low-beta stocks will decline, but the required return on an average-risk stock will not change.
b.	An investor who holds just one stock will generally be exposed to more risk than an investor who holds a portfolio of stocks, assuming the stocks are all equally risky. Since the holder of the 1-stock portfolio is exposed to more risk, he or she can expect to earn a higher rate of return to compensate for the greater risk.
c.	There is no reason to think that the slope of the yield curve would have any effect on the slope of the SML.
d.	Assume that the required rate of return on the market, r_M, is given and fixed at 10%. If the yield curve were upward sloping, then the Security Market Line (SML) would have a steeper slope if 1-year Treasury securities were used as the risk-free rate than if 30-year Treasury bonds were used for r_RF.
e.	If Mutual Fund A held equal amounts of 100 stocks, each of which had a beta of 1.0, and Mutual Fund B held equal amounts of 10 stocks with betas of 1.0, then the two mutual funds would both have betas of 1.0. Thus, they would be equally risky from an investor’s standpoint, assuming the investor’s only asset is one or the other of the mutual funds.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging

OBJ: LO: 6-7 NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: SML KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual

Freedman Flowers’ stock has a 50% chance of producing a 25% return, a 30% chance of producing a 10% return, and a 20% chance of producing a -28% return. What is the firm’s expected rate of return?

a.	9.41%
b.	9.65%
c.	9.90%
d.	10.15%
e.	10.40%

ANS: C

			Prob
Conditions	Prob.	Return	´ Return
Good	0.50	25.0%	12.50%
Average	0.30	10.0%	3.00%
Poor	0.20	-28.0%	–5.60%
	1.00		9.90%	= Expected return

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-2

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Expected return KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Bloome Co.’s stock has a 25% chance of producing a 30% return, a 50% chance of producing a 12% return, and a 25% chance of producing a -18% return. What is the firm’s expected rate of return?

a.	7.72%
b.	8.12%
c.	8.55%
d.	9.00%
e.	9.50%

ANS: D

			Prob.
Conditions	Prob.	Return	´ Return
Good	0.25	30.0%	7.50%
Average	0.50	12.0%	6.00%
Poor	0.25	-18.0%	–4.50%
	1.00		9.00%	= Expected return

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-2

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Expected return KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Donald Gilmore has $100,000 invested in a 2-stock portfolio. $35,000 is invested in Stock X and the remainder is invested in Stock Y. X’s beta is 1.50 and Y’s beta is 0.70. What is the portfolio’s beta?

a.	0.65
b.	0.72
c.	0.80
d.	0.89
e.	0.98

ANS: E

				Weight
Company	Investment	Weight	Beta	´ beta
X	$ 35,000	0.35	1.50	0.53
Y	$ 65,000	0.65	0.70	0.46
	$100,000	1.00		0.98	= Portfolio beta

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-6

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Shirley Paul’s 2-stock portfolio has a total value of $100,000. $37,500 is invested in Stock A with a beta of 0.75 and the remainder is invested in Stock B with a beta of 1.42. What is her portfolio’s beta?

a.	1.17
b.	1.23
c.	1.29
d.	1.35
e.	1.42

ANS: A

		Port.		Weight
Company	Investment	weight	Beta	´ beta
Stock A	$ 37,500	0.375	0.75	0.28
Stock B	$ 62,500	0.625	1.42	0.89
	$100,000	1.00		1.17	= Portfolio beta

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-6

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Ivan Knobel holds a well-diversified portfolio that has an expected return of 11.0% and a beta of 1.20. He is in the process of buying 1,000 shares of Syngine Corp at $10 a share and adding it to his portfolio. Syngine has an expected return of 13.0% and a beta of 1.50. The total value of Ivan’s current portfolio is $90,000. What will the expected return and beta on the portfolio be after the purchase of the Syngine stock?

a.	10.64%; 1.17
b.	11.20%; 1.23
c.	11.76%; 1.29
d.	12.35%; 1.36
e.	12.97%; 1.42

ANS: B

Old portfolio return	11.0%
Old portfolio beta	1.20
New stock return	13.0%
New stock beta	1.50
% of portfolio in new stock = $ in New/($ in Old + $ in New) =
$10,000/$100,000 =	10%
New expected portfolio return = r_p = 0.1 ´ 13% + 0.9 ´ 11% =	11.20%
New expected portfolio beta = b_p = 0.1 ´ 1.50 + 0.9 ´ 1.20 =	1.23

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Calculate the required rate of return for Everest Expeditions Inc., assuming that (1) investors expect a 4.0% rate of inflation in the future, (2) the real risk-free rate is 3.0%, (3) the market risk premium is 5.0%, (4) the firm has a beta of 1.00, and (5) its realized rate of return has averaged 15.0% over the last 5 years.

a.	10.29%
b.	10.83%
c.	11.40%
d.	12.00%
e.	12.60%

ANS: D

Real rate (r*):	3.00%
IP:	4.00%
RP_M:	5.00%
Beta:	1.00
Required return = r_RF + b(RP_M) = r* + IP + b(RP_M) =	12.00%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Zacher Co.’s stock has a beta of 1.40, the risk-free rate is 4.25%, and the market risk premium is 5.50%. What is the firm’s required rate of return?

a.	11.36%
b.	11.65%
c.	11.95%
d.	12.25%
e.	12.55%

ANS: C

Beta	1.40
Risk-free rate	4.25%
Market risk premium	5.50%
Required return	11.95%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Nystrand Corporation’s stock has an expected return of 12.25%, a beta of 1.25, and is in equilibrium. If the risk-free rate is 5.00%, what is the market risk premium?

a.	5.80%
b.	5.95%
c.	6.09%
d.	6.25%
e.	6.40%

ANS: A

Use the SML to determine the market risk premium with the given data.

r_s	= r_RF + b_Stock ´ RP_M
12.25%	= 5.00% + 1.25 ´ RP_M
7.25%	= RP_M ´ 1.25
5.80%	= RP_M

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Market risk premium KEY: Bloom’s: Application

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Martin Ortner holds a $200,000 portfolio consisting of the following stocks:

Stock	Investment	Beta
A	$50,000	0.95
B	50,000	0.80
C	50,000	1.00
D	50,000	1.20
Total	$200,000

What is the portfolio’s beta?

a.	0.938
b.	0.988
c.	1.037
d.	1.089
e.	1.143

ANS: B

Stock	Investment	Percentage	Beta	Product
A	$ 50,000	25.00%	0.95	0.238
B	$ 50,000	25.00%	0.80	0.200
C	$ 50,000	25.00%	1.00	0.250
D	$ 50,000	25.00%	1.20	0.300
Total	$200,000	100.00%		0.988	= Portfolio beta

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-6

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Sherrie Hymes holds a $200,000 portfolio consisting of the following stocks. The portfolio’s beta is 0.875.

Stock	Investment	Beta
A	$50,000	0.50
B	50,000	0.80
C	50,000	1.00
D	50,000	1.20
Total	$200,000

If Sherrie replaces Stock A with another stock, E, which has a beta of 1.50, what will the portfolio’s new beta be?

a.	1.07
b.	1.13
c.	1.18
d.	1.24
e.	1.30

ANS: B

		Original Portfolio
Stock	Investment	Percentage	Beta	Product
A	$ 50,000	25.00%	0.50	0.125
B	$ 50,000	25.00%	0.80	0.200
C	$ 50,000	25.00%	1.00	0.250
D	$ 50,000	25.00%	1.20	0.300
E
Total	$200,000	100.00%		0.875

	New Portfolio
Stock	Percentage	Beta	Product
A
B	25.00%	0.80	0.200
C	25.00%	1.00	0.250
D	25.00%	1.20	0.300
E	25.00%	1.50	0.375
Total	New Portfolio beta =		1.125

Alternative solution: (b_E – b_A)(%A) + b_Old = 1.125

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Megan Ross holds the following portfolio:

Stock	Investment	Beta
A	$150,000	1.40
B	50,000	0.80
C	100,000	1.00
D	75,000	1.20
Total	$375,000

What is the portfolio’s beta?

a.	1.06
b.	1.17
c.	1.29
d.	1.42
e.	1.56

ANS: B

Stock	Investment	Percentage	Beta	Product
A	$150,000	40.00%	1.40	0.56
B	$ 50,000	13.33%	0.80	0.11
C	$100,000	26.67%	1.00	0.27
D	$ 75,000	20.00%	1.20	0.24
Total	$375,000	100.00%		1.17	= Portfolio beta

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Paul McLaren holds the following portfolio:

Stock	Investment	Beta
A	$150,000	1.40
B	50,000	0.80
C	100,000	1.00
D	75,000	1.20
Total	$375,000

Paul plans to sell Stock A and replace it with Stock E, which has a beta of 0.75. By how much will the portfolio beta change?

a.	-0.190
b.	-0.211
c.	-0.234
d.	-0.260
e.	-0.286

ANS: D

	Original				New
Stock	Investment	Percentage	Beta	Product	Beta	Product
A	$150,000	40.00%	1.400	0.560	0.750	0.300
B	$ 50,000	13.33%	0.800	0.107	0.800	0.107
C	$100,000	26.67%	1.000	0.267	1.000	0.267
D	$ 75,000	20.00%	1.200	0.240	1.200	0.240
Total	$375,000	100.00%	Old b =	1.173	New b =	0.913

Change in beta = New – Old = -0.260

Alternative solution: (b_E – b_A) ´ %A = -0.260

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Jenna holds a diversified $100,000 portfolio consisting of 20 stocks with $5,000 invested in each. The portfolio’s beta is 1.12. Jenna plans to sell a stock with b = 0.90 and use the proceeds to buy a new stock with b = 1.80. What will the portfolio’s new beta be?

a.	1.286
b.	1.255
c.	1.224
d.	1.194
e.	1.165

ANS: E

% in each stock:	5%
Old stock’s beta:	0.90
New stock’s beta:	1.80
Old port. beta:	1.12

New beta = (b_New – b_Old) ´ %A + b_Old = 1.165

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Porter Plumbing’s stock had a required return of 11.75% last year, when the risk-free rate was 5.50% and the market risk premium was 4.75%. Then an increase in investor risk aversion caused the market risk premium to rise by 2%. The risk-free rate and the firm’s beta remain unchanged. What is the company’s new required rate of return? (Hint: First calculate the beta, then find the required return.)

a.	14.38%
b.	14.74%
c.	15.11%
d.	15.49%
e.	15.87%

ANS: A

Risk-free rate	5.50%
Old market risk premium	4.75%
Old required return	11.75%
b = (Old return – r_RF)/Old RP_M	1.32
New market risk premium	6.75%
New required return = r_RF + b(RP_M) =	14.38%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Company A has a beta of 0.70, while Company B’s beta is 1.20. The required return on the stock market is 11.00%, and the risk-free rate is 4.25%. What is the difference between A’s and B’s required rates of return? (Hint: First find the market risk premium, then find the required returns on the stocks.)

a.	2.75%
b.	2.89%
c.	3.05%
d.	3.21%
e.	3.38%

ANS: E

Beta: A	0.70
Beta: B	1.20
Market return	11.00%
Risk-free rate	4.25%
Market risk premium	6.75%
Required return A = r_RF + b_A(RP_M) =	8.98%
Required return B = r_RF + b_B(RP_M) =	12.35%
Difference	3.38%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Stock A’s stock has a beta of 1.30, and its required return is 12.00%. Stock B’s beta is 0.80. If the risk-free rate is 4.75%, what is the required rate of return on B’s stock? (Hint: First find the market risk premium.)

a.	8.76%
b.	8.98%
c.	9.21%
d.	9.44%
e.	9.68%

ANS: C

Beta: A	1.30
Beta: B	0.80
A’s required return	12.00%
Risk-free rate	4.75%
RP_M = (A’s return – r_RF)/beta_A =	5.58%
B’s required return = r_RF + b(RP_M) =	9.21%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Barker Corp. has a beta of 1.10, the real risk-free rate is 2.00%, investors expect a 3.00% future inflation rate, and the market risk premium is 4.70%. What is Barker’s required rate of return?

a.	9.43%
b.	9.67%
c.	9.92%
d.	10.17%
e.	10.42%

ANS: D

Real risk-free rate, r*	2.00%
Expected inflation, IP	3.00%
Market risk premium, RP_M	4.70%
Beta, b	1.10
Risk-free rate = r* + IP =	5.00%
Required return = r_RF + b(RP_M) =	10.17%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Brodkey Shoes has a beta of 1.30, the T-bill rate is 3.00%, and the T-bond rate is 6.5%. The annual return on the stock market during the past 3 years was 15.00%, but investors expect the annual future stock market return to be 13.00%. Based on the SML, what is the firm’s required return?

a.	13.51%
b.	13.86%
c.	14.21%
d.	14.58%
e.	14.95%

ANS: E

Use SML to determine the market risk premium. Note that r_RF is based on T-bonds, not short-term T-bills.

r_s	= r_RF + RP_M
13.00%	= 6.50% + RP_M
6.50%	= RP_M

Use the SML to determine the firm’s required return using the RP_M calculated above.

r_s	= r_RF + RP_M ´ b
	= 6.50% + 6.50% ´ 1.30
	= 14.95%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Gardner Electric has a beta of 0.88 and an expected dividend growth rate of 4.00% per year. The T-bill rate is 4.00%, and the T-bond rate is 5.25%. The annual return on the stock market during the past 4 years was 10.25%. Investors expect the average annual future return on the market to be 12.50%. Using the SML, what is the firm’s required rate of return?

a.	11.34%
b.	11.63%
c.	11.92%
d.	12.22%
e.	12.52%

ANS: B

Use SML to determine the market risk premium. Note that r_RF is based on T-bonds, not short-term T-bills. Also, note that the dividend growth rate is not needed.

r_s	= r_RF + RP_M
12.50%	= 5.25% + RP_M
RP_M	= 7.25%

Use SML to determine the firm’s required return using RP_M calculated above.

r_s	= r_RF + RP_M ´ b
	= 5.25% + 7.25% ´ 0.88
	= 11.63%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Consider the following information and then calculate the required rate of return for the Universal Investment Fund, which holds 4 stocks. The market’s required rate of return is 13.25%, the risk-free rate is 7.00%, and the Fund’s assets are as follows:

Stock	Investment	Beta
A	$ 200,000	1.50
B	$ 300,000	-0.50
C	$ 500,000	1.25
D	$1,000,000	0.75

a.	9.58%
b.	10.09%
c.	10.62%
d.	11.18%
e.	11.77%

ANS: E

r_M	13.25%
r_RF	7.00%

Find portfolio beta:

	Weight	Beta	Product
$ 200,000	0.100	1.50	0.1500
$ 300,000	0.150	-0.50	-0.0750
$ 500,000	0.250	1.25	0.3125
$1,000,000	0.500	0.75	0.3750
$2,000,000	1.000		0.7625	= portfolio beta

Find RP_M = r_M – r_RF = 6.25%

r_s = r_RF + b(RP_M) = 11.77%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Data for Atwill Corporation is shown below. Now Atwill acquires some risky assets that cause its beta to increase by 30%. In addition, expected inflation increases by 2.00%. What is the stock’s new required rate of return?

Initial beta	1.00
Initial required return (r_s)	10.20%
Market risk premium, RP_M	6.00%
Percentage increase in beta	30.00%
Increase in inflation premium, IP	2.00%

a.	14.00%
b.	14.70%
c.	15.44%
d.	16.21%
e.	17.02%

ANS: A

Old beta	1.00
Old r_s = r_RF + b(RP_M)	10.20%
RP_M	6.00%
Percentage increase in beta	30.00%
Increase in IP	2.00%
Find new beta after increase =	1.30
Find old r_RF: Old r_s = r_RF+ b(RP_M): 10.2% = r_RF + 1.0(6.0%): r_RF =	4.20%
10.2% – 6.0% =	4.20%
Find new r_RF: Old r_RF + increase in IP =	6.20%
Find new r_s = new r_RF + new beta(RP_M)	14.00%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Fiske Roofing Supplies’ stock has a beta of 1.23, its required return is 11.75%, and the risk-free rate is 4.30%. What is the required rate of return on the market? (Hint: First find the market risk premium.)

a.	10.36%
b.	10.62%
c.	10.88%
d.	11.15%
e.	11.43%

ANS: A

Beta	1.23
Risk-free rate	4.30%
Required return on stock	11.75%
RP_M = (r_Stock – r_RF)/beta	6.06%
Required return on market = r_RF + RP_M =	10.36%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Return on the market KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Suppose Stan holds a portfolio consisting of a $10,000 investment in each of 8 different common stocks. The portfolio’s beta is 1.25. Now suppose Stan decided to sell one of his stocks that has a beta of 1.00 and to use the proceeds to buy a replacement stock with a beta of 1.35. What would the portfolio’s new beta be?

a.	1.17
b.	1.23
c.	1.29
d.	1.36
e.	1.43

ANS: C

Number of stocks	8
Percent in each stock = 1/number of stocks =	12.500%
Portfolio beta	1.25
Stock that’s sold	1.00
Stock that’s bought	1.35
Change in portfolio’s beta = 0.125 ´ (b₂ – b₁) =	0.0438
New portfolio beta	1.29

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-6

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Returns for the Alcoff Company over the last 3 years are shown below. What’s the standard deviation of the firm’s returns? (Hint: This is a sample, not a complete population, so the sample standard deviation formula should be used.)

Year	Return
2010	21.00%
2009	-12.50%
2008	25.00%

a.	20.08%
b.	20.59%
c.	21.11%
d.	21.64%
e.	22.18%

ANS: B

This is a relatively technical problem. It should be used only if calculations are emphasized in class or on a take-home exam where students have time to look up formulas or to use Excel or their calculator functions.

		Deviation	Squared
Year	Return	from Mean	Deviation
2010	21.00%	9.83%	0.97%
2009	-12.50%	-23.67%	5.60%
2008	25.00%	13.83%	1.91%
Expected return	11.17%		8.48%	Sum sqd deviations
			4.24%	Sum/(N – 1)
SQRT = a = 20.59%		20.59% with Excel

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-4

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Std. dev., historical returns KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Stuart Company’s manager believes that economic conditions during the next year will be strong, normal, or weak, and she thinks that the firm’s returns will have the probability distribution shown below. What’s the standard deviation of the estimated returns? (Hint: Use the formula for the standard deviation of a population, not a sample.)

Economic
Conditions	Prob.	Return
Strong	30%	32.0%
Normal	40%	10.0%
Weak	30%	-16.0%

a.	17.69%
b.	18.62%
c.	19.55%
d.	20.52%
e.	21.55%

ANS: B

This is a relatively technical problem. It should be used only if calculations are emphasized in class, or on a take-home exam where students have time to look up formulas or to use Excel or their calculator functions.

Economic		Return	Dev. from	Squared	Sqd. dev.
Conditions	Prob.	This state	Mean	Dev.	´ Prob
Strong	30%	32.0%	23.20%	10.24%	3.07%
Normal	40%	10.0%	1.20%	0.01%	0.01%
Weak	30%	–16.0%	-24.80%	6.15%	1.85%
	100%	8.8%		Variance	4.92%
a = Sqrt of variance		18.62%	18.62% by Excel

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-2

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Std. dev., prob. data KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Assume that your cousin holds just one stock, Eastman Chemical Bonding (ECB), which he thinks has very little risk. You agree that the stock is relatively safe, but you want to demonstrate that his risk would be even lower if he were more diversified. You obtain the following returns data for Wilder’s Creations and Buildings (WCB). Both companies have had less variability than most other stocks over the past 5 years. Measured by the standard deviation of returns, by how much would your cousin’s risk have been reduced if he had held a portfolio consisting of 60% in ECB and the remainder in WCB? (Hint: Use the sample standard deviation formula.)

	Year	ECB	WCB
	2007	40.00%	40.00%
	2008	-10.00%	15.00%
	2009	35.00%	-5.00%
	2010	-5.00%	-10.00%
	2011	15.00%	35.00%

Average return =		15.00%	15.00%
Standard deviation =		22.64%	22.64%

a.	3.29%
b.	3.46%
c.	3.65%
d.	3.84%
e.	4.03%

ANS: D

% ECB: 60%	Year	ECB	WCB	Portfolio ECB/WCB
% ECB: 60%	2007	40.00%	40.00%	40.00%
	2008	-10.00%	15.00%	0.00%
	2009	35.00%	-5.00%	19.00%
	2010	-5.00%	-10.00%	-7.00%
	2011	15.00%	35.00%	23.00%

Average return =		15.00%	15.00%	15.00%
Standard deviation =		22.64%	22.64%	18.80%

Reduction in the SD vs. ECB’s SD:			3.84%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-4

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio risk reduction KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

The $10.00 million mutual fund Henry manages has a beta of 1.05 and a 9.50% required return. The risk-free rate is 4.20%. Henry now receives another $5.00 million, which he invests in stocks with an average beta of 0.65. What is the required rate of return on the new portfolio? (Hint: You must first find the market risk premium, then find the new portfolio beta.)

a.	8.83%
b.	9.05%
c.	9.27%
d.	9.51%
e.	9.74%

ANS: A

			% of New
			Port.
Old funds (millions)		$10.00	66.67%
New funds (millions)		$5.00	33.33%
Total portfolio		$15.00	100.00%
Req’d return, old stocks		9.50%
Risk-free rate		4.20%
Market risk premium:
	r_P = r_RF + b(RP_M) >> 9.5% = 4.2% + 1.05(RP_M)	5.30%
	RP_M = (9.5% – 4.2%)/1.05 = 5.05%

New portfolio:
Old portfolio’s beta		1.05
New stocks’ beta		0.65
New portfolio beta		0.9167
New portfolio required return = r_RF + New beta(RP_M) =		8.8270%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Hazel Morrison, a mutual fund manager, has a $40 million portfolio with a beta of 1.00. The risk-free rate is 4.25%, and the market risk premium is 6.00%. Hazel expects to receive an additional $60 million, which she plans to invest in additional stocks. After investing the additional funds, she wants the fund’s required and expected return to be 13.00%. What must the average beta of the new stocks be to achieve the target required rate of return?

a.	1.68
b.	1.76
c.	1.85
d.	1.94
e.	2.04

ANS: B

Old funds (millions)	$ 40.00	40.00%
New funds (millions)	$ 60.00	60.00%
Total new funds	$100.00	100.00%

Beta on existing portfolio	1.00
Risk-free rate	4.25%
Market risk premium	6.00%
Desired required return	13.00%	13% = r_RF + b(RP_M); b = (13% – r_RF)/RP_M
Required new b_p	1.4583	beta = (Return – Risk-free)/RP_M
Required beta, new stocks	1.76	Req. b = (Old$/Total$) ´ Old b +
		(New$/Total$) ´ New b

Beta on new stocks = (Req. b – (Old$/Total$) ´ Old b)/(New$/Total$)

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Portfolio beta KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Joel Foster is the portfolio manager of the SF Fund, a $3 million hedge fund that contains the following stocks. The required rate of return on the market is 11.00% and the risk-free rate is 5.00%. What rate of return should investors expect (and require) on this fund?

Stock	Amount	Beta
A	$1,075,000	1.20
B	675,000	0.50
C	750,000	1.40
D	500,000	0.75
	$3,000,000

a.	10.56%
b.	10.83%
c.	11.11%
d.	11.38%
e.	11.67%

ANS: C

Company	Amount	Weight	Beta	Wt ´ beta
Stock A	$1,075,000	0.358	1.20	0.43
Stock B	675,000	0.225	0.50	0.11
Stock C	750,000	0.250	1.40	0.35
Stock D	500,000	0.167	0.75	0.13
	$3,000,000	1.000	b_Portfolio =	1.02	Intermediate step

Required market return			11.00%
Risk free rate			5.00%
Market risk premium = r_Market – r_RF =			6.00%

Portfolio’s required return = r_RF + b(RP_M) =			11.11%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: Port. beta and req. ret. KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

DHF Company has a beta of 1.5 and is currently in equilibrium. The required rate of return on the stock is 12.00% versus a required return on an average stock of 10.00%. Now the required return on an average stock increases by 30.0% (not percentage points). Neither betas nor the risk-free rate change. What would DHF’s new required return be?

a.	14.89%
b.	15.68%
c.	16.50%
d.	17.33%
e.	18.19%

ANS: C

This problem requires some algebra:

CCC’s beta	1.50
CCC’s initial required return	12.00%
Percentage increase in required market return	30.0%
Initial required return on the market	10.00%
New required return on the market	13.00%

Now for the algebra:
r_Stock = r_RF + b(RP_M) = r_RF + 1.5(RP_M)
r_Market = r_RF + b(RP_M) = r_RF + 1.0(RP_M)

Now insert known data and transpose:
12% = r_RF + 1.5(RP_M) >> 12% – r_RF = 1.5(RP_M)
10% = r_RF + (RP_M) >> 10% – r_RF = 1.0(RP_M)

Now subtract the second equation from the first. r_RF and one of the RP_Ms cancel, leaving: 2% = 0.5(RP_M)

Now solve for RP_M: RP_M = 2%/0.5	4.00%
Now find the risk-free rate: r_RF = Initial r_Market – RP_M = 10% – 4% =	6.00%
New RP_M = New required return on the market – r_RF	7.00%
Now find the new return on CCC = r_RF + b(new RP_M) =	16.50%

PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Challenging OBJ: LO: 6-7

NAT: BUSPROG: Analytic STA: DISC: Risk and return

LOC: TBA TOP: CAPM: required rate of return KEY: Bloom’s: Analysis

MSC: TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem

Corporate Finance A Focused Approach 5th Edition By Ehrhardt, Michael C. - Test Bnak

Description

Additional Information

Reviews

Additional information

Add Review Cancel reply

Health Assessment In Nursing 6th By Janet R. Weber

Bates’ Guide To Physical Examination And History Taking 12th Edition

Pediatric Primary Care 6Th Ed By - Burns

Psychiatric Nursing 8th Edition by Keltner

Clinical Guidelines in Family Practice 5th Edition Uphold Graham

Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Diagnosis in Primary Care 5th Edition by Joyce E. Dains

Quick Links

Contact Information

Corporate Finance A Focused Approach 5th Edition By Ehrhardt, Michael C. - Test Bnak

Description

Additional Information

Reviews

Additional information

Add Review Cancel reply

Related Products

Health Assessment In Nursing 6th By Janet R. Weber

Bates’ Guide To Physical Examination And History Taking 12th Edition

Pediatric Primary Care 6Th Ed By - Burns

Psychiatric Nursing 8th Edition by Keltner

Clinical Guidelines in Family Practice 5th Edition Uphold Graham

Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Diagnosis in Primary Care 5th Edition by Joyce E. Dains

Quick Links

Contact Information