A stock has an expected return of 13.5 percent, its beta is 1.40, and the expected return on the market is 11.5 percent. What must the risk-free rate be? (Do not round intermediate calculations and enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e. g., 32.16.)

The risk free rate is 6.50%

Explanation:

The required rate of return is the minimum return that investors demand/expect on a stock based on the systematic risk of the stock as given by the beta. The expected or required rate of return on a stock can be calculated using the CAPM equation.

The equation is,

r = rRF + Beta * (rM - rRF)

Where,

As we know the figures for r, Beta and rM, we will input these figures in the equation to calculate risk free rate.

Let risk free rate be x.

0.135 = x + 1.4 * (0.115 - x)

0.135 = x + 0.161 - 1.4x

0.135 - 0.161  =  x - 1.4x

-0.026  =  -0.4x

-0.026 / -0.4 = x

x =  0.065 or 6.50%

r = 0.1475 or 14.75%