In any of the possible two-stock scenarios, the weight of each stock in the portfolio will be 50%. The three possible portfolio combinations are AB, AC, and BC.

I.

Question Details:
Spreadsheet Exercise:
Jane is considering investing in three different stocks or creating three distinct two-stock portfolios. Jane considers herself to be a rather conservative investor. She is able to obtain forecasted returns for the three securities for the years 2007 through 2013. The data are as follows:

Year Stock A Stock B Stock C
2007 10% 10% 12%
2008 13 11 14
2009 15 8 10
2010 14 12 11
2011 16 10 9
2012 14 15 9
2013 12 15 10

In any of the possible two-stock scenarios, the weight of each stock in the portfolio will be 50%. The three possible portfolio combinations are AB, AC, and BC.

To Do:
Create a spreadsheet similar to Tables 5.7 or 5.8.
Table 5.7 (example)
A. Expected Portfolio Returns

Forecasted Returns
Year Asset X Asset Y Portfol. Return Calc. Expec. Port Fol. Return (Kp)
2007 8% 16% (.50 x 8%) + .(.50 x 16%) = 12%
2008 10 14 (.50 x 10%) + .50 x 14%) = 12%
Etc.

B. Expected Value of Portfolio, 2007-2001
Kp + 12% +12% + 12% + 12% + 12%/5

C. Standard Deviation of expected portfolio returns
Okp = (12% - 12%)squared + 12% -12% squared , etc./5-1
= standard deviation of 0% + 0%, etc/4
= 0 in this case.

Table 5.8 (example)
Lists

Assets Portfolios
Year X Y Z XYa(50%X + 50% Y) XZb (50% X+50% Z)
2007 8% 16% 8% 12% 8%
2008 10 14 10 12 10
Etc.

Statistics:
Expected Value: 12% 12% 12% 12% 12%
Standard Deviation: 3.16% 3.16% 3.16 0% 3.16%

A. Calculate the expected return for each individual stock
B. Calculate the standard deviation for each individual stock.
C. Calculate the expected returns for portfolio AB, AC, and BC
D. Calculate the standard deviations for portfolios AB, AC, and BC.
E. Would you recommend that Jane invest in the single stock A or portfolio consisting of stocks A and B? Explain your answer from a risk-return viewpoint.
F. Would you recommend that Jane invest in the single stock B or the portfolio consisting of stocks B and C? Explain your answer from a risk-return viewpoint.

See attached file for full problem description.