01 A Brief History of Risk and Return (DEF MC)

A frequency distribution, which is completely defined by its average (mean) and standard deviation, is referred to as a(n): A. normal distribution. B. variance distribution. C. expected rate of return. D. average geometric return. E. average arithmetic return.

A

BLOOM'S formula is used to: A. predict future rates of return. B. convert an arithmetic average return into a geometric average return. C. convert a geometric average return into an arithmetic average return. D. measure past performance in a consistent manner. E. compute the historical mean return over a multi-year period of time.

A

Based on the period 1926-2006, the risk premium for U.S. Treasury bills was: A. 0.0 percent. B. 1.2 percent. C. 2.0 percent. D. 2.4 percent. E. 2.7 percent.

A

The risk premium is defined as the rate of return on: A. a risky asset minus the risk-free rate. B. the overall market. C. a U.S. Treasury bill. D. a risky asset minus the inflation rate. E. a riskless investment.

A

The standard deviation is a measure of: A. volatility. B. total return. C. capital gains. D. changes in dividend yields. E. changes in the capital gains rate.

A

The wider the distribution of an investment's returns over time, the _____ the expected average rate of return and the _____ the expected volatility of those returns. A. higher; higher B. higher; lower C. lower; higher D. lower; lower E. The distribution of returns does not affect the expected average rate of return.

A

Which one of the following should be used as the mean return when you are defining the normal distribution of an investment's annual rate of return? A. Arithmetic average return for the period B. Geometric average return for the period C. Total return for the period divided by N-1 D. Arithmetic average return for the period divided by N-1 E. Geometric average return for the period divided by N-1

A

Based on the period of 1926-2009, the risk premium for small-company stocks averaged: A. 12.3 percent. B. 13.9 percent. C. 15.0 percent. D. 16.8 percent. E. 17.4 percent.

B

The average risk premium on large-compnay stocks for the period 1926-2009 was: A. 6.7 percent. B. 7.9 percent. C. 8.5 percent. D. 12.3 percent. E. 13.6 percent.

B

The average risk premium on long-term corporate bonds for the period 1926-2009 was: A. 2.4 percent. B. 2.7 percent. C. 3.3 percent. D. 3.7 percent. E. 3.9 percent.

B

The dividend yield is defined as the annual dividend expressed as a percentage of the: A. average stock price B. initial stock price. C. ending stock price. D. total annual return. E. capital gain.

B

The mean plus or minus one standard deviation defines the _____ percent probability range of a normal distribution. A. 50 B. 68 C. 82 D. 90 E. 95

B

Which one of the following statements is correct based on the historical returns for the period 1926-2006? A. For the period, Treasury bills yielded a higher rate of return than long-term government bonds. B. The inflation rate exceeded the rate of return on Treasury bills during some years. C. Small-company stocks outperformed large-company stocks every year during the period. D. Bond prices, in general, were more volatile than stock prices. E. For the period, large-company stocks outperformed small-company stocks.

B

Which one of the following statements is correct concerning the dividend yield and the total return? A. The dividend yield can be zero while the total return must be a positive value. B. The total return can be negative but the dividend yield cannot be negative. C. The total return must be greater than the dividend yield. D. The total return plus the capital gains yield is equal to the dividend yield. E. The dividend yield exceeds the total return when a stock increases in value.

B

The average compound return earned per year over a multiyear period when inflows and outflows are considered is called the: A. total return. B. average capital gains yield. C. dollar-weighted average return. D. arithmetic average return. E. geometric average return.

C

The rate of return earned on a U.S. Treasury bill is frequently used as a proxy for the: A. risk premium. B. deflated rate of return. C. risk-free rate. D. expected rate of return. E. market rate of return.

C

The total dollar return on a share of a stock is defined as the: A. change in the price of the stock over a period of time. B. dividend income divided by the beginning price per share. C. capital gain or loss plus any dividend income. D. change in the stock price divided by the original stock price. E. annual dividend income received.

C

When we refer to the rate of return on an investment, we are generally referring to the: A. capital gains yield. B. effective annual rate of return. C. total percentage return. D. dividend yield. E. annualized dividend yield.

C

Which category(ies) of investments had an annual rat eof return that exceeded 100 percent for at least one year during the period 1926-2009? A. Only large-company stocks. B. Both large-company and small-company stocks. C. Only small-company stocks. D. Corporate bonds, large-company stocks, and small-company stocks. E. No category earned an annual return in excess of 100 percent for any given year during the period.

C

Which one of the following statements is correct? A. The standard deviation of the returns on Treasury bills is zero. B. Large-company stocks are historically riskier than small-company stocks. C. The variance is a means of measuring the volatility of returns on an investment. D. A risky asset will always have a higher annual rate of return than a riskless asset. E. There is an indirect relationship between risk and return.

C

An annualized return: A. is less than a holding period return when the holding period is less than one year. B. is expressed as the summation of the capital gains yield and the dividend yield on an investment. C. is expressed as the capital gains yield that would have been realized if an investment had been held for a twelve-month period. D. is computed as (1+holding period return)ⁿⁿ, where m is the number of holding periods in a year E. is computed as (1+holding period percentage return)ⁿⁿ, where m is the number of months in the holding period.

D

Assume you own a portfolio that is invested 50 percent in large-company stocks and 50 percent in corporate bonds. If you want to increase the potential annual return on this portfolio, you could: A. decrease the investment in stocks and increase the investment in bonds. B. replace the corporate bonds with intermediate-term government bonds. C. replace the corporate bonds with Treasury bills. D. increase the standard deviation of the portfolio. E. reduce the expected volatility of the portfolio.

D

Capital gains are included in the return on an investment: A. when either the investment is sold or the investment has been owned for at least one year. B. only if the investment is sold and the capital gain is realized. C. whenever dividends are paid. D. whether or not the investment is sold. E. only if the investment incurs a loss in value or is sold.

D

For the period 1926-2009, long-term government bonds had an average return that _____ the average return on long-term corporate bonds while having a standard deviation that _____ the standard deviation of the long-term corporate bonds. A. exceeded; was less than B. exceeded; equaled C. exceeded; exceeded D. was less than; exceeded E. was less than; was less than

D

If you multiply the number of shares of outstanding stock for a firm by the price per share, you are computing the firm's: A. equity ratio. B. total book value. C. market share. D. market capitalization. E. time value.

D

The capital gains yield is equal to: A. ( P(t) - P(t+1) + D(t+1) ) / P(t+1) B. ( P(t+1) - P(t) + D(t) ) / D(t) C. D(t+1) / P(t) D. ( P(t+1) - P(t) ) / P(t) E. ( P(t+1) - P(t) ) / P(t+1)

D

The geometric return on an investment is approximately equal to the arithmetic return: A. plus half the standard deviation. B. plus half the variance. C. minus half the standard deviation. D. minus half the variance. E. divided by two.

D

When the total return on an investment is expressed on a per-year basis it is called the: A. capital gains yield. B. dividend yield. C. holding period return. D. effective annual return. E. initial return.

D

Which one of the following had the greatest volatility of returns for the period 1926-2009? A. Large-company stocks B. U.S. Treasury bills C. Long-term government bonds D. Small-company stocks E. Long-term government bonds

D

Which one of the following had the highest average return for the period 1926-2006? A. Large-company stocks. B. U.S. Treasury bills. C. Long-term government bonds. D. Small-company stocks. E. Long-term corporate bonds.

D

Which one of the following had the highest risk premium for the period 1926-2009? A. U.S. Treasury bills. B. Long-term government bonds. C. Large-company stocks. D. Small-company stocks. E. Intermediate-term government bonds.

D

Which one of the following is considered the best method of comparing the returns on various-sized investments? A. Total dollar return. B. Real dollar return. C. Absolute dollar return. D. Percentage return. E. Variance return.

D

For the period 1926-2009, the annual return on large-company stocks: A. was negative following every three-year period of positive returns. B. was only negative for two or more consecutive years during the Great Depression. C. remained negative for at least two consecutive years anytime that it was negative. D. never exceeded a positive 30 percent nor lost more than 20 percent. E. was unpredictable based on the prior year's performance.

E

The additional return earned for accepting risk is called the: A. inflated return. B. capital gains yield. C. real return. D. riskless rate. E. risk premium.

E

The arithmetic average return is the: A. summation of the returns for a number of years, t, divided by (t-1). B. compound total return for a period of years, t, divided by t. C. average compound return earned per year over a multiyear period. D. average squared return earned in a single year. E. return earned in an average year over a multiyear period.

E

The average compound return earned per year over a multiyear period is called the: A. total return. B. average capital gains yield. C. variance. D. arithmetic average return. E. geometric average return.

E

The geometric mean return on large-company stocks for the 1926-2009 period: A. is approximately equal to the arithmetic mean return plus one-half of the standard deviation. B. exceeds the arithmetic mean return. C. is approximately equal tot he arithmetic mean return minus one-half of the standard deviation. D. is approximately equal to the arithmetic mean return plus one-half of the variance. E. is less than the arithmetic mean return.

E

The risk-free rate is: A. another term for the dividend yield. B. defined as the increase in the value of a share of stock over time. C. the rate of return earned on an investment in a firm that you personally own. D. defined as the total of the capital gains yield plus the dividend yield. E. the rate of return on a riskless investment.

E

Which one of the following had the narrowest bell curve for the period 1926-2009? A. Large-company stocks. B. Long-term corporate bonds. C. Long-term government bonds. D. Small-company stocks. E. U.S. Treasury bills.

E

Which one of the following had the smallest standard deviation of returns for the period 1926-2009? A. Large-company stocks B. Small-company stocks C. Long-term government bonds D. Intermediate-term government bonds E. Long-term corporate bonds

E

Which one of the following should be used to compare the overall performance of three different investments? A. Holding period dollar return. B. Capital gains yield. C. Dividend yield. D. Holding period percentage return. E. Effective annual return.

E

You have owned stock for seven years. The geometric average return on this investment for those seven years is positive even though the annual rates of return have varied significantly. Given this, you know the arithmetic average return for the period is: A. positive but less than the geometric average return. B. less than the geometric return and could be negative, zero, or positive. C. equal to the geometric average return. D. either equal to or greater than the geometric average return. E. greater than the geometric average return.

E