Risks and Returns

- See more at: http://www.customwritingservice.org/blog/risks-and-returns/

Analysis
Fears in business operations are known as risks. They mainly affect external and international
relations and other business relations. In the event where operational risks are prominent, the
viability of a business in the future deteriorates and is a complete failure or crippling of the entire
business system. Risk aversion also takes into consideration proper analysis of future prospect of
a specific business before even making an ideal analysis of future prospect of a specific business
before engaging in capital investment (Denne & Cleland-Huang, 2004, p. 114).
Additionally, understanding the amount of returns a person would expected from capital invested
under a risky business environ is very crucial. This needs accurate quantitative risk measures in a
way that allows investors to make the right investment decisions.

1) Discuss the concept of stand-alone or project risk and distinguish this risk and its measure
from portfolio risks
Standalone risk is a term in portfolio management. Under risk evaluation and management, risk
diversification would ensure proximity towards the aversion. In this kind of risk, the interest of
top leadership would help to ensure that undiversified personal risk within the complete portfolio
(Denne & Cleland-Huang, 2004, p. 129). Project managers under the stand alone risk are able to
determine risks associated with a specific project as an individual entity.
Whereas the standalone risk if often a measure of the standard nonconformity of anticipated
returns, variance co-efficiency of expected return, portfolio risk is still a measure of beta
coefficient. One is therefore able to judge the suitability of a specific project portfolio.
2) Using the information given in exhibit 1, determine the most likely rate of return for each
investment in the upcoming period. In addition, find the standard deviation of return for each
investment.

Workings
Assuming that all the four incidences have equal opportunities of influencing return levels within
the three industries, the probability (Pi) would be 25 percent for I=1, 2, 3 and 4
Hence, E(R)
Where E(R) = the predictable return on the store
N= the number of situations
Pi = the likelihood of scenario i
Ri = the return on the stock in state i
E (Rw) for Waxell Inc. = 0.25(-2.00%) +0.25(6.75%) + 0.25(9.21%) + 0.25(14.50%)
(Rw) = -0.5 + 1.6875 + 2.3025 + 3.625 = 7.115%
E (Rs) for Stewart Inc. = 0.25(2.54%) + 0.25(4.35%) + 0.25(6.78%) + 0.25(9.71%)
E (Rs) = 0.635 + 1.0875 + 1.695 + 2.4275 = 5.845%
E(RE) for Edelman Inc. = 0.25(15.46%) + 0.25(7.50%) + 0.25(4.60%) + 0.25(1.54%)
E (RE) = 3.91 + 1.875 + 1.15 + 0.385 = 7.32%
From the calculations above, Edelman Inc. has the uppermost expected rate of return.

Standard deviation = 2, where 2 is the variance.

But discrepancy (2) 2
For Waxell, 2w = 0.25(-2.00-7.115)2 + 0.25(6.75 7.115)2 + 0.25(9.21 7.115)2 + 0.25(14.507.115)2
2w = 20.77080625 + 0.03330625 + 1.09725625 + 13.63455625 = 35.53592525
Therefore 2w = 5.961201662
For Stewart, 2s = 0.25(2.54 5.845)2 + 0.25(4.35 5.845)2 + 0.25(6.78 5.845)2 + 0.25(9.71
5.845)2
2s = 11.173025 + 0.55875625 + 0.21855625 + 14.938225 = 26.88856275
Therefore 2s = 5.185418281
For Edelman, 2E = 0.25(15.46 7.32)2 + 0.25(7.50 7.32)2 + 0.25(4.60 7.32)2 + 0.25(1.54
7.32)2
2E = 16.5649 + 0.0081 + 0.4624 + 8.7616 = 25.797
Therefore 2E = 5.079074719
Using your answer to 2 above and assuming that stockholders can only invest in one of the three
alternatives in exhibit 1, use expected returns and standard deviation to determine which
alternative would be the most appropriate for a risk-averse investor. Justify your method of
comparison.
Besides offering the uppermost expected returns on investment among the three companies
investing in Edelman Inc. is less risky compared to Waxell or Stewart. This is based on the fact
that the variance as well as deviance standards of Edelman Inc. investment are smaller than the
two corporations Stewart Inc. and Waxell. From the foregoing, the most ideal alternative for a
risk averse stockholder would be Edelman Inc.
This is based on the fact that an investor would be better placed to get the highest returns on
investment. Similarly, the investor has some confidence level that Edelman Inc. would keep up
with its operations even in the unpredictable future since the invested capital is safe.
3) Determine the expected returns and standard deviation of a portfolio comprised of Waxell
shares and Stewart shares in equal dollar amounts. Without making any calculation, explain how
the computation would be more complex if you were to consider risks and returns for a portfolio
of Waxell, Stewart and Edelman shares.
Where E[Rp] = the projected return on the portfolio,

N = the number of stocks in the assortment,

wi = the amount of the portfolio invested in stock i, and
E[Ri] = the expected return on stock i.
For a collection comprising of two shares, the above equation changes to the equation below:
We assume that Waxell shares are 50% and Stewarts are 50% within the portfolio
E(Rw) = 7.115%
E(Rs) = 5.845%
Hence a portfolio consisting of 50% Waxell and 50% Stewart would be
E(RP) = 0.50 (7.115%) + (1 0.50)5.845% = 6.48%
p = w2121 + w2222 + 2w1w2cov1,2 where w1 is quantity of Waxell share in the assortment, w2
is proportion of Stewart share in the portfolio and p in the standard deviation of the portfolio.
But association coefficient = Cov1, 2/12, hence Cov1, 2 = 0.357(5.961201662) (5.185418281)
Cov1, 2 = 11.03534269
p = 0.502(35.53592525) + 0.502(26.88856275) + 2(0.50)(0.50)11.03534269
p = 8.883981313 + 6.722140688 + 5.517671345
p = 4.596062809
Calculation of anticipated returns from a portfolio of more than one capital share includes the use
of subjective averages of respective share capitals. Calculating the weighted the typical of the
three share capitals can be complex hence, a reason as to why the entire process of finding the
expected returns and a standard variation for a portfolio with the three company shares may be
hectic.
4) Use the numbers in exhibition 2 to determine the systemic risk (beta) of stock A and Stock B.
which measure, beta or standard deviation is more useful when analyzing stocks that are to be
placed in a portfolio?
Beta coefficient of stock, = Cov (Rs, Rm)/2m, where Rs is stock return, Rm is market return and
2m is market variance. But Cov (Rs, Rm) = 1/(n 1)(RmRs nRmRs)
From Exhibit 2, Cov(RA, Rm) = 1/(24 1)(1070.5564 24(7.650416667)(3.87)) = 15.89104348

2m = (Rm Rm)2/n =33660.4449/24 = 1402.518538

Hence, A = 15.89104348/1402.518538 = 0.011330362
Cov(RB, Rm) = 1/(24-1)(-73.0987-24(3.84)(4.375416667)) = 20.7103087
Hence, B = -20.7103087/1402.518538 = -0.014766513
Beta use is more proficient in evaluating systemic risk involved when combining two stocks in a
portfolio. Systemic risk is a volatility of investments measure within a portfolio therefore; one
cannot accurately gauge the variability that would occur by utilizing standard deviations.
5) Referring to your solution in the question above, discuss how beta and standard deviation
(volatility) are different. In addition, explain how systemic risks and unsystemic risks are
different and how each risk is dealt with in the capital markets.
Systematic risk is the quantity of venture risk, which the company cannot eliminate via
diversification. A company would use the risk to offer an indication of how a specific investment
stock in diversified portfolio would contribute towards ensuring that the portfolio is risky for an
investment.
Since systemic risk cannot be diversified by a company, the risk is mainly known as
undiversified risk. Unsystematic risk on the other hand is the amount of invested capital assets
risk capable of being run by the company by integrating part of the security within the
diversifiable companys portfolio (Tuller, 1994, p. 209). Calculating the systemic risk also needs
measure of vulnerability of invested stock by a company against the security portfolios average
risk.
In relevance to connection to stock vulnerability, one can also determine whether the economic
bid is more that the security or less that than the security a financial situation presents. It is
therefore a common idea that stockholders are risk averse. Therefore, investors make decisions
to hold the portfolios with high financial securities level to mitigate with correspondence on the
advantages of the divergence processes.
Therefore based on the evaluation of costs involved in investment making, investors have the
potency of deciding on the most ideal portfolios for investment. The most common question that
many stockholders ask before making financial investment in a given portfolio is how good does
a market risk contribute to the Expected Return of an investment?
6) The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) relies on beta as a measure of a firms risk. Explain
how the CAPM uses beta and illustrate, with an example, how the CAPM or the Security Market
Line (SML) can be used to measure a firms risk premium and required rate of return
Just like in any other business, managers can measure business risks and differentiate between
high risk productions processes from low risk processes. There are different methods that have
been widely used by managers to determine the amount of risks and how they create the right

audit to help counteract diverse effects of related risks. Today, many businesses use Capital
Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) or Security Market Line (SML) to measure a companys risk
premium (Friend, Bicksler, American Telephone and Telegraph Company and Conference on
Risk and Rate of Return, 1977, p. 323).
Risk premium is the difference between investment (asset) return and risk free return. This is to
say, Risk Premium = Ra Rf, where Ra and Rf are asset and risk free returns respectively. The
formula tries to investigate the amount that a stockholder is likely to get as reward from a
venture that faces various risks.
In regards to calculation of risk premium, the CAPM formula utilizes beta coefficient to
calculate the risk premium of a specific investment. With CAPM in mind, the formula for risk
premium would be as bellow.
Risk premium = (Rf + (Rm -Rf)) Rf where Rf is the risk free return, is the beta constant and
Rm is the marketplace rate of return. For instance, given that the value of beta is 1.08, the market
rate of return is 8 percent and risk free rate is 4 percent. One may also calculate risk premium as
follows using the CAPM
Risk premium = Ra Rf
But Ra = Rf + (Rm Rf) = 0.04 + 1.08(0.08- 0.04) = 0.0832 = 8.32%
Hence, Risk Premium = 0.0832 0.04 = 0.0432 = 4.32%
On the other hand, a person can also measure premium risk using the SML method. The SML
method becomes quite easy to evaluate and understand when one uses the graphical approach as
below (Douglas, 1988, p. 201).
It would also be convenient to know that the SML slope is the market risk premium and it can be
calculated as Risk Premium = (E[Rm] Rf). Most importantly, a risk averse investor should be
able to interpret the y-intercept of the SML as it is Risk Free rate.

Conclusion
The main reason as to why people make investments in different businesses is to realize high
returns at the end of an accounting period. Investors make investments if they conclude that their
investments can grow to a level of capturing high returns in the long run. Businesses also operate
in uncertain future full of fears. Such fears are constraints that make stockholders shun away
from making contributions via financial engagement and in a way that will help the business to
grow.
When it comes to performance of the business, the viability of future operation strategies depend
on the fact that the management are able to evaluate the future prospect of the business through
policy makers. Therefore, it calls for ideal financial audit as well as planning in light to
anticipated returns and possible constraints.

Every business is also expected to operate within set goals, which to some level may end up
facing financial risks of high levels. Even so, one should note with a lot of confidence that for
any business operations, risks are inevitable and should not prevent anyone from making an
investment.
Realization of the viability of the future of a business in terms of capital stock is also highly
proponent in risk aversion.

Recommendation
It is true that as businesses focus on maximizing output levels, thus returns generated from
different production processes, stockholders also aim at achieving high returns from their
invested capital and at constant intervals of time throughout a businesss life cycle (Tuller, 1994,
p. 202).
Before accepting to engage in a specific production processes, businesses should try and
understand the nature of complexities involved as well as possible risks under such a production
environment. Risks can be managed through proper analysis and understanding of external and
internal business environment (Tuller, 1994, p. 205).
In the event where the possibility of reducing specific operational risks is zero then the
production analysis would be more ideal compared to making an investment in a business
environment that is very risky. Investors on the same note should be able to interpret presented
information by companies over risks involved and expected returns.
This return as well as risk analysis would also put investors on the verge of choosing what is
more ideal to them. The intention is to maximize on returns arising from production processes.
From such incidences, more specifically example 1, a rational investor should be in a position to
link his or her interests to make an investment to the company that would guarantee high returns
and being subjected to share stocks as a way of achieving an environment that is less risky. The
underlying factor is that many stockholders are risk averse and it means they do not interact often
with business plans that are risky.

REFERENCES
Denne, M., & Cleland-Huang, J. (2004). Software by numbers: Low-risk, high-return
development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR.
Douglas, L. G. (1988). Yield curve analysis: The fundamentals of risk and return. New York:
New York Institute of Finance.
Friend, I., Bicksler, J. L., American Telephone and Telegraph Company., & Conference on Risk
and the Rate of Return. (1977). Risk and return in finance. Cambridge, Mass: Ballinger Pub. Co.

Tuller, L. W. (1994). High-risk, high-return investing. New York: J. Wiley & Sons.

We can assist you write a business paper like the one above. Get in touch with us today if
you want us to assist you by visiting our homepage. You can also learn more from this blog
by perusing through the archives for many academic papers posted here.
- See more at: http://www.customwritingservice.org/blog/risks-and-returns/