Measuring Single-Asset Risk

            Standard deviation is a statistical measure of dispersion around an expected value ( 1999 ).  With this, risks can be derived from standard deviation and returns to expected value.  It is unlikely that an investor would place his money to single-asset, as such cannot be hedged by diversification, except on specific contracts.  In HKSE, 1-month HIBOR future (2005) is an example of single-asset usually obtained by a buyer who wants to transfer the risk from interest rate fluctuations.  He probably has huge debt from local banks and his interest payments depend largely on interest rates of such banks in which are continuously changing. 

 

            To measure the risk position of the buyer, it is necessary to determine individual returns which depends to interest rate-sensitive indicators, say, Hong Kong’s levels of FDI and the probability of their occurrence.  Let us assumed that the buyer after thorough research has classified high, medium and low FDI levels with probabilities of occurrence of 25%, 50% and 25% respectively and probable returns at 15%, 12% and 8% respectively.  After calculating the expected value of a return, risk measurement can be conducted by deriving it from standard deviation (see computation 1).

 

            The computation shows that the expected value of the buyer’s return is 11.75% and his risk is 2.49%.  Statistically, using the normal probability distribution (see figure 1), it can said that there is 68% chance that the actual return will lie within ±1σ of 11.75% (the mean) and 95% chance within ±2σ of 11.75%.  However, determining the risk of the venture has yet to be completely derived.  The normal distribution merely mimic the rule of return-risk trade-offs.  In ±1σ scenario, there is smaller dispersion (risk) coupled with smaller upper limit of 14.24% but minimal lower limit of 9.26%.  In contrast, the ±2σ scenario shows that there is higher dispersion (risk) coupled with larger upper limit of 16.73% but too low lower limit of 6.77%.  Question of investment alternatives become useful to this finding to obtain comparative statistics.  At this moment, the investor can simply assess his attitude to risk with reference to vital factors, say, his liquidity.     

 

Measuring Portfolio Risk

            Extending the analysis of the cautionary finding in the preceding example, we can derive the risk position of the buyer with more accuracy when we will also compute for another type of asset alternative (say, the 3-month HIBOR futures).  Assuming that the buyer opted to have follow-up research for this and come-up with information in Table 1, which for the purpose of comparison, situated beside the 1-month HIBOR futures.  It can be observed that 3-month HIBOR future (2005) is more sensitive since it can be classified narrowly to very high FDI, high FDI, moderately high FDI, and so on.  This, possibly, is caused by higher risk (and return) attached with longer exposure to market and economy fluctuations.

 

            In computing for the expected value and standard deviation of the 3-month HIBOR (see computation 2), it is still contestable what is the optimal investment destination.  This can be answered by coefficient of variation (see computation 3).  Thus, the 3-month HIBOR future is computed not only the less risky investment option but more profitable than the 1-month HIRBOR computed earlier.  Someone would ask, where did the expected value of return will come from noting that the purpose of such purchase is for the buyer to offset substantial fluctuations of banks’ interests rates where he has outstanding loans and interest payments?  This can be resolved for the fact that those HIBORs are also tradable where a large amount in a transaction would not only shield the buyer from interest rate shocks but also derive profits (losses) from them.              

 

Four Ways of Common Stock Valuation

Zero and Constant Dividend Growth

            Expectations on future dividend payments primarily characterize the value of ordinary (common) shares.  This is an assumption that the firm will not be sold or take-over to/by another firm .  Figure 2 shows the basic formula to determine common stock value.  However, since firm performance and consequently its dividend payments can only be estimated, placing a numerical value in the formula may lead shareholders to exaggeration or even underestimation.  Due to this, there are two specific assumptions for guidance; namely, zero dividend growth and constant dividend growth . 

 

            For example, assuming that an HKSE listed firm Esprit is expected to pay a dividend of HK.50 indefinitely and the required rate of return is 12%.  As observed, the expected dividend is termed as ‘indefinitely’ to acknowledge that no growth will ensue in the meantime probably such is applicable to some countries in the European market of Esprit due to stiff competition (2006).  By canceling the period of varying dividend growth, the figure 2 formula would simply derive the answer from the quotient of expected dividend per share and required rate of return equivalent to HK.17.  On the other hand, assuming that the new woman’s apparel of the firm has enticed the North American market that resulted to expected constant dividend growth of 5% per year.  Using figure 2, the answer is HK$ 7.50. 

 

As observed, the positive reaction of North American market indirectly increased the stock value primarily due to higher expected future cash flows.  However, such assumptions should not be easily taken by shareholders since the crucial part of the computation lies in accurate finding of the required rate of return and dividend growth.  The former will be tackled in the later discussion about cost of capital while the latter can be derived using the next discussion about growth dividend estimation. 

 

Estimating the Growth Rate of Dividend

            For example, an investor is confronted with Esprit financial information as follows:                                          

Year

Dividend per share (HK$)

2005

0.50

2004

0.42

2003

0.35

2002

0.29

2001

0.24

2000

0.20

 

            By using the concept of future value interest factor (FVIF), these calculations can be derived:

Using the formula (p. 263)

(FVr, n) = PV (1+r) n

Substituting,

D1999 = D1994 (1+g) 5

(HK.50g, 5) = HK.20(1+g) 5

HK.50/£0.20 = (1+g) 5

HK.5 = (1+g) 5

  

            This 2.5 will then referred to the FVIF table (see table 2) together with n=5.  The resultant value is 20% which implies that 20% growth is required for 1994 dividend to reach the 1999 level in five years time.  With this historical information, the investor can assess the profit or growth potential of the Esprit.  In cases such as over competition, the stock value will be computed with zero dividend growth at the current year expectation.  In the contrary, cases such as strong demand within stable competition, it can be computed at constant growth of 4% annually (20% divided by five years).  Thus, it is more profitable and less risky for the investor to invest in North American Esprit stocks than those traded in Europe assuming all else constant.    

 

Irregular Dividend Followed by Constant Growth

            Assuming that the investor, arrived at beta = 1.09 for Esprit common stock.  Assume further that they are trying to derive the stock value of its shares in 5-year period with high dividend per share initially then decline until it reaches stability.  They arrive at the following calculations. 

Year

Estimated Dividend per share based in historical records (in HK$)

Expected Constant Growth over Five-year Period (in HK$)

Dividend per share (in HK$)

Required Return on Investment

Present Values (in HK$)

2006

1.30

1.09

1.42

1.1239

1.26

2007

1.42

1.09

1.54

(1.1239)2

1.22

2008

1.54

1.09

1.68

(1.1239)3

1.19

2009

1.68

1.09

1.84

(1.1239)4

1.15

2010

1.84

1.09

2.00

(1.1239)5

1.12

 

            The other technical computations are shown in computation 4.  The present value of esprit stock is HK.33 estimated over the 5-year business period.  This can be useful data if compared to the present share price of the firm, say, HK.00.  In conclusion, the common shares of Esprit are overvalued.  It is either the market has yet to observe what the investors estimated during those five years and the firm has intangible assets such as brand name and patents (commonly not maximize by the firm itself since they cannot be internally generated).  In consideration to the latter, investors should exploit this value-added aspect of the firm and purchase its common stocks for future benefits.

 

Non-Payment of Dividends during the First Three Years

            Using the preceding table, if the first 3-year period has zero values of dividends, the present value of the common stock over 5-year derivation will be much lower at HK.23.  This is in assumption that the next two-year onwards will lead to a constant growth.  And so, the computation will be likewise the same as the preceding example (see computation 4).  However, the resultant of Esprit unable to pay-out dividends in the first three years directly affected its stock value.  This model lags behind the high-to-low then stability model for at least 50% and HK.00 price per share of Esprit almost 100%.  In conclusion, the present value of common shares dropped due to higher risks attributable to absence not only of continuous dividend income but also indication that the firm is really profiting.  Otherwise, it would have some dividend pay-outs. 

 

Four Ways of Calculating Cost of Capital        

Capital Asset Pricing Method (CAPM)

            Supposed that Esprit condition assumed in the preceding examples do not hold.  The global firm will be viewed by investors as a good investment destination but there is the need to determine the expected rate of return from the cost of capital.  Using CAPM (see figure 3), the following Esprit information can be calculated: risk-free rate of 3%, beta (risk measure) of the stock is 2 and the expected market return over the period is 10%.  The stock is expected to return 17%.  This can be then used by investors in assessing the profitability of Esprit investment and in turn used by Esprit to entice capital into its coffers.

 

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

As CAPM is useful for Esprit to determine the level of performance investors are expecting, WACC aids the firm to select the most efficient combination of capital structure by reflecting in the computation both equity and debt financing options.  For example, Esprit is contracted with a project that has internal rate of return (IRR) of 9% with initial investment equivalent to million, 15 years life span and interest rate on debt at 8%.  However, the firm has its broker who offers an alternative investment with the same initial outlay and life span but with IRR of 12% and required rate of return of 13%.  Using WACC, the original 8% debt rate is down to 4% (8% x 0.50) while 13% equity rate is down to 6.5% (13% x 0.50) with a total WACC of 10.5%.  In effect, the move to mix debt and equity in computation makes IRR of option one rejected (9%<10.5%) while IRR of option two accepted (12%>10.5%) wherein initially option 1 is more worthwhile in absolute terms than option 2. 

 

Other Alternatives

            Not all firms particularly the new players can obtain its beta coefficient easily or its stocks are not traded in Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE) making CAPM and WACC infeasible.  Due to this input problem, there is a need to resort to other methods.  First, the pure play approach () requires a firm (say, confronted with new investment option that is never tapped before) to based its beta and financial structure strategy to a firm that is registered and traded in HKSE.  Research is important to complete the missing inputs for either CAPM or WACC derivations.  Ideally, the basis firm should be aligned with the same business as the nature of the new investment option.  The objective of such is to determine a suitable venture match and to have profile of an experienced and relevant firm.  Second, the subjective approach can guide the firm although with lesser concrete results than the first alternative.  Managers will simply make a project risk classification subjectively in which beta can be derived.  For example, routine replacement projects is classified as low risk with beta 10%, projects maintaining current operations as average risk with 14% beta and so on (p. 442).

                  

Bibliography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Appendices

 

 

Computation 1

                           

E(r)=r1 P(r1 )+r2 P(r2 )+…+rn P(rn )

where,

ri

=

rate of return for the identified ith outcome

P(ri)

=

probability of earning return i for the identified outcome

n

=

number of possible outcomes

 

So,

 

 

E(r) = 0.25(15%)+0.50(12%)+0.25(8%) = 11.75%

 

 

 

where

Var(r )

=

the variance of returns

σr

=

the standard deviation of returns

=

the expected or mean value of a return

ri

=

return for the ith outcome

P(ri )

=

probability of occurrence of the ith outcome

n

=

number of outcomes considered

 

 

 

(2)−(3)

(4)×(4)

 

(5)×(6)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

I

ri

ri−r̄

(ri−r̄)2

P(ri)

(ri−r̄)2×P(ri)

1

15%

11.75%

3.25%

10.56%

0.25

2.64%

2

12

11.75

0.25

0.06

0.50

0.03

3

8

11.75

−3.75

14.06

0.25

3.52

 

 

Finally, our standard deviation is 2.49%. 

 

 

 

 

Computation 2

 

 

Rate of Return

Probability of Occurrence

Expected Value

 

 

 

 

 

6

0.05

12

-6

36

1.8

 

 

8

0.1

-4

16

1.6

 

 

10

0.2

-2

4

0.8

 

 

12

0.3

0

0

0

 

 

14

0.2

2

4

0.8

 

 

16

0.1

4

16

1.6

 

 

18

0.05

6

36

1.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.4

2.89%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-month

3-month

Expected value

11.75%

12

Std deviation

2.49%

2.89%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computation 3

 

 

 

1-month

3-month

Expected value

11.75%

12

Std deviation

2.49%

2.89%

Coefficient of Variation

0.211915

 

0.002408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computation 4

 

Computation High-Decline-Stable

Next, we value the stable growth period:

DPS = .00 (1.06) = .12
Ks = 12.8%
g = 6%

.12 / (.128-0.06) = .18

Next, we must calculate the present value of the dividends.

.18 / (1.1239)5 = .39

When calculating the present value of the dividends of the stable growth period, we use the same required rate of return as the high-growth phase and raise it to the fifth power for a five-year example like the one above.

Adding the two values, we get: .39 + .94 = .33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2

 

Formula of basic equity valuation model

 

The basic equity share valuation model is given by: 4

where,

SV0

=

value (price) of the share at time zero

Dt

=

expected dividend per share (DPS) at end of year t (t=1, 2, …, n, …, ∞)

r

=

required annual rate of return on the share/discount rate

=

symbol denoting infinity

 

 

Zero Growth

 

 

 

Constant Growth

 

Figure 3

E(ri )=Rf i (ERm −Rf )

where,

E(ri )

=

required return on asset/share i

Rf

=

risk-free rate of return

βi

=

beta coefficient for asset/share i

ERm

=

expected market return, that is the return expected on the market portfolio of shares

 

 

 

Table 1

 

Asset A

Asset B

Rate of return (%)

Probability of occurrence, P(ri)

Rate of return (%)

Probability of occurrence, P(ri)

6

0.05

8

0.25

8

0.10

10

0.50

10

0.20

12

0.25

12

0.30

 

 

14

0.20

 

 

16

0.10

 

 

18

0.05

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2: Future value interest factor (FVIF) for £1 compounded at r per cent for n periods (p. 695)

 

 

n

11%

12%

13%

14%

15%

16%

17%

18%

19%

20%

1

1.110

1.120

1.130

1.140

1.150

1.160

1.170

1.180

1.190

1.200

2

1.232

1.254

1.277

1.300

1.322

1.346

1.369

1.392

1.416

1.440

3

1.368

1.405

1.443

1.482

1.521

1.561

1.602

1.643

1.685

1.728

4

1.518

1.574

1.630

1.689

1.749

1.811

1.874

1.939

2.005

2.074

5

1.685

1.762

1.842

1.925

2.011

2.100

2.192

2.288

2.386

2.488

6

1.870

1.974

2.082

2.195

2.313

2.436

2.565

2.700

2.840

2.986

7

2.076

2.211

2.353

2.502

2.660

2.826

3.001

3.185

3.379

3.583

8

2.305

2.476

2.658

2.853

3.059

3.278

3.511

3.759

4.021

4.300

9

2.558

2.773

3.004

3.252

3.518

3.803

4.108

4.435

4.785

5.160

10

2.839

3.106

3.395

3.707

4.046

4.411

4.807

5.234

5.695

6.192

11

3.152

3.479

3.836

4.226

4.652

5.117

5.624

6.176

6.777

7.430

12

3.498

3.896

4.334

4.818

5.350

5.936

6.580

7.288

8.064

8.916

13

3.883

4.363

4.898

5.492

6.153

6.886

7.699

8.599

9.596

10.699

14

4.310

4.887

5.535

6.261

7.076

7.987

9.007

10.147

11.420

12.839

15

4.785

5.474

6.254

7.138

8.137

9.265

10.539

11.974

13.589

15.407

16

5.311

6.130

7.067

8.137

9.358

10.748

12.330

14.129

16.171

18.488

17

5.895

6.866

7.986

9.276

10.761

12.468

14.426

16.672

19.244

22.186

18

6.543

7.690

9.024

10.575

12.375

14.462

16.879

19.673

22.900

26.623

19

7.263

8.613

10.197

12.055

14.232

16.776

19.748

23.214

27.251

31.948

20

8.062

9.646

11.523

13.743

16.366

19.461

23.105

27.393

32.429

38.337

21

8.949

10.804

13.021

15.667

18.821

22.574

27.033

32.323

38.591

46.005

22

9.933

12.100

14.713

17.861

21.644

26.186

31.629

38.141

45.923

55.205

23

11.026

13.552

16.626

20.361

24.891

30.376

37.005

45.007

54.648

66.247

24

12.239

15.178

18.788

23.212

28.625

35.236

43.296

53.108

65.031

79.496

25

13.585

17.000

21.230

26.461

32.918

40.874

50.656

62.667

77.387

95.395

30

22.892

29.960

39.115

50.949

66.210

85.849

111.061

143.367

184.672

237.373

40

64.999

93.049

132.776

188.876

267.856

378.715

533.846

750.353

1051.642

1469.740

50

184.559

288.996

450.711

700.197

1083.619

1670.669

2566.080

3927.189

5988.730

9100.191

 

 





Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


0 comments:

Post a Comment

 
Top