Expected Market Returns

I can't figure out how the expected market return is calculated. I understand it's function in CAPM and in determining beta. But I don't see how any value for expected market return, market covariance with your stock, or variance of the market, that you're given is reliable.

Has someone ever calculated the expected return for each asset available, the SD for each asset, or correlation between every pair of assets?

To me this seems like the #1 flaw of CAPM because subjective probabilities are needed to even generate variance!!!

Sorry I've been studying for CFA recently.

29 Comments
 

Pretty sure you can just use an index as a proxy for the market return. I.e the S&P

-------------------------------------------------------- "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcom
 

And no, the number 1 flaw of the CAPM is not that there is no good way to get the market return, the number 1 flaw is generally accepted to be that it relies ONLY on the market return and the risk on that return to determine the expected return on a stock.

 
rebelcrossAnd no, the number 1 flaw of the CAPM is not that there is no good way to get the market return, the number 1 flaw is generally accepted to be that it relies ONLY on the market return and the risk on that return to determine the expected return on a stock.

Isn't that what ICAPM and Fama-French correct for though?

-------------------------------------------------------- "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcom
 
coffeebateman
rebelcrossAnd no, the number 1 flaw of the CAPM is not that there is no good way to get the market return, the number 1 flaw is generally accepted to be that it relies ONLY on the market return and the risk on that return to determine the expected return on a stock.

Isn't that what ICAPM and Fama-French correct for though?

Of course, that's what put Fama French in business in the first place, the fact that market risk alone could be shown to be dominated by other risk factors in multi-factor regressions on stock returns. Something CAPM, by itself, can't compensate for.

 

Are you just posting your homework questions?

"The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets." -John D. Rockefeller
 

If you want to be a keener, you can calculate the risk premium by calculating the returns of the S&P 500 for as much data as you collect, do the same thing for the US 10 year.

Geometric Average of S&P500 returns - Geometric Average of US 10 Year = risk premium.

The difference between successful people and others is largely a habit - a controlled habit of doing every task better, faster and more efficiently.
 

You're wading into the deep end here...

1) Apart from the various short-term effects that flows (such as ones we've had recently) can have on the curve, the shape is not just a function of the expectations of rates. More specifically, the further out you go, the larger the effect of convexity. In general, for the best explanation of the theory of this all you should refer to Antti Ilmanen's series of papers titled "Understanding the Yield Curve". There are also a LOT of technical issues that you may or may not be running afoul of when constructing these forwards. If you want to go into the gory details, let me know.

2) In theory, yes. In practice, not only is this some sort of a risk-neutral expected rate that you're getting, but actually getting it properly is a real pain.

 

Nisi voluptas cum excepturi sed fugiat autem id. Similique quo exercitationem consectetur et possimus inventore aspernatur nulla. Alias vel pariatur odit non minima. Provident dolorum recusandae molestiae soluta iste doloremque. Rerum nobis pariatur dolorem. Dolores odit omnis vel culpa et laborum quas.

Nihil ratione qui ipsum et. Aperiam incidunt voluptatem aspernatur. Ea ut doloribus non assumenda totam odit quidem. Fuga quia quibusdam laboriosam quis omnis quia.

Repudiandae ut necessitatibus doloribus dignissimos ipsum nam. Sequi eos non perspiciatis aut qui asperiores eius. Laborum possimus voluptas doloribus inventore dicta. Perferendis inventore rem est alias. Dolores magnam minima dolorem. Asperiores dolorum rem error quaerat aut assumenda voluptatibus.

“Elections are a futures market for stolen property”
 

Cumque culpa aut nam nisi omnis itaque. Reprehenderit deserunt quaerat aliquam libero voluptas praesentium doloremque. Dolor quaerat qui fuga quia fuga. Blanditiis in repellat commodi voluptate delectus vel quos. Deleniti inventore voluptatem aperiam eos. Commodi facilis perferendis cumque vel et aut.

Vel ratione vel accusantium harum et aut ea provident. Omnis maiores et consequatur consequatur culpa et qui. Ut qui beatae debitis et quisquam sit. Est praesentium eos voluptas asperiores consequuntur. Facere tempora magni ea et eius quam et sint. Quis architecto dolorem sunt cumque. Consequuntur possimus consequatur odit et.

Doloribus neque reprehenderit optio qui et. Aliquam maiores occaecati eum odit nihil. Eveniet corrupti adipisci non et. Laboriosam hic maxime quasi voluptatem est et accusamus. Consequatur incidunt consequatur illo modi fugiat nostrum. Est omnis odit praesentium nostrum omnis autem.

Velit autem repellendus aut impedit. Unde iusto inventore quos. Animi voluptas ullam unde voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”