CAPM & Beta Explained: Risk in Stock Valuation
CAPM and beta explained: how investors estimate cost of equity, what beta means, and why risk assumptions matter in intrinsic value models.
What is beta?
Beta measures how sensitive a stock is to market movements. Higher beta generally implies higher volatility and risk, which can raise the required return.
What is CAPM?
CAPM estimates the cost of equity as risk-free rate + beta × equity risk premium. It is a common starting point for discount rates.
Beta is backward-looking and can change. Use CAPM as a baseline, then apply judgment and scenario ranges.
Connect risk to valuation
Discount rates, terminal assumptions, and fundamentals interact. Learn the components, then use margin of safety thinking.
FAQs
Does a higher beta mean higher returns?▼
Not guaranteed. It indicates higher volatility/risk, which investors may demand compensation for, but outcomes can differ.
Can beta be wrong?▼
Yes. Beta can be unstable and depend on the time window. Use it as one input, not the whole story.
Related
Intrinsic Investor is for education and research only. Not financial advice.