CAPM Calculator - Capital Asset Pricing Model

CAPM estimates the expected return on an asset by adding a risk premium to the risk-free rate, scaled by beta. This page also keeps the formula, examples, FAQs, and references close by so you can check the result with confidence.

What This CAPM Calculator - Capital Asset Pricing Model Helps You Do

Expected return equals risk-free rate plus beta times the market risk premium. Review the formula and examples below if you want to see how the result is derived.

This page is meant to give you a fast answer, but it also helps you double-check the math before you make a decision. Start with the inputs that you already know, run the calculation, and then compare the output with the formula, examples, and FAQs below so you can see whether the answer fits the situation you are modeling.

If the result looks off, the usual causes are a unit mismatch, a missing decimal, the wrong scenario, or a value that needs to be entered as a rate instead of a total. The notes on this page are designed to make those checks easy without forcing you to leave the calculator and search for context elsewhere.

  • Use the calculator first for a quick estimate.
  • Use the formula to understand how the result is built.
  • Use the examples to compare common use cases.
  • Use the references when the answer depends on a standard or assumption.

Common Checks

A quick result is useful, but the best result is one that still makes sense when you look at it a second time. If you are comparing scenarios, try changing one input at a time so you can see which variable has the biggest impact on the final answer. That makes it much easier to spot whether the calculation matches your expectations.

It also helps to keep the context of the problem in mind. A calculator can tell you the math, but you still need to decide whether the input represents a total, a rate, an average, or a category-specific assumption. When in doubt, start with a simple example from the page and scale up from there.

  • Check that every unit matches the rest of the problem.
  • Keep rates, totals, and averages separate.
  • Adjust one variable at a time when testing scenarios.
  • Use the smallest realistic input first, then scale upward.

Scenario Planning

This calculator is especially useful when you want a quick answer before you commit time, money, or effort. Try one baseline input set, then change a single number and compare the result so you can see how sensitive the answer is to that variable.

That makes the page useful for more than just arithmetic. It becomes a small decision aid that helps you compare options, test assumptions, and explain the final number with confidence when you need to share it with someone else.

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Result

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Quick Answer: Expected return equals risk-free rate plus beta times the market risk premium. Review the formula and examples below if you want to see how the result is derived.

How to Calculate CAPM Calculator - Capital Asset Pricing Model

  1. Enter the risk-free rate: Use the return on a low-risk benchmark.
  2. Enter beta and market return: These values determine the equity risk premium.
  3. Read the expected return: The result is the CAPM-required return.

CAPM Calculator - Capital Asset Pricing Model Formula

Expected return = risk-free rate + beta × (expected market return - risk-free rate)
Variable Meaning Unit
Risk-free rate Return on a nearly risk-free investment %
Beta Sensitivity of the asset to the market x
Expected market return Average market return you expect %

Worked Examples

USA - Moderate-beta stock
  • Risk-free rate: 4%
  • Beta: 1.2
  • Expected market return: 10%

Result: 11.2%

The stock needs a return above the market premium because beta is above 1.

UK - Defensive stock
  • Risk-free rate: 3%
  • Beta: 0.8
  • Expected market return: 9%

Result: 7.8%

A lower beta reduces the required return.

EU - Aggressive stock
  • Risk-free rate: 2.5%
  • Beta: 1.5
  • Expected market return: 8%

Result: 10.75%

A higher beta increases the expected return.

How to Interpret Your Results

Range Meaning Action
Below market return The stock has a lower required return than the market Check whether beta is below 1.
Around market return The stock tracks the market more closely Use the value in valuation models.
Above market return The stock needs a higher return to compensate for risk Confirm whether the premium is justified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beta measures how much an asset tends to move relative to the market.

It estimates the expected return required to compensate for systematic risk.

Yes. That means the asset is less volatile than the market.
Planning note: CAPM is a model, not a guarantee. Real markets can deviate from the expected return.

References

Last reviewed: March 2026