What Is Levered Beta?

Levered Beta measures the risk of a company's equity, factoring in the impact of its debt. This metric is crucial for investors to understand the true volatility relative to the market.

Levered Beta, often referred to simply as equity beta, is a measure of the risk of a company’s equity, considering the impact of its financial leverage (debt). It represents the sensitivity of the company’s stock returns relative to the returns of the overall market, with adjustments for the company’s debt structure.

Definition

Levered Beta calculates the volatility of a company’s equity with the additional risk due to its debt. It is a crucial metric in the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), enabling investors to understand the true extent of risk and expected return on an investment.

Mathematically, Levered Beta (\(\beta_l\)) is related to unlevered beta (\(\beta_u\)) through the following formula:

$$ \beta_l = \beta_u [1 + (1 - T_c) \frac{D}{E} ] $$

where:

• \( \beta_l \) = Levered Beta
• \( \beta_u \) = Unlevered Beta
• \( T_c \) = Corporate Tax Rate
• \( D \) = Market Value of Debt
• \( E \) = Market Value of Equity

Components of Levered Beta

Unlevered Beta

Unlevered Beta (\(\beta_u\)) measures the risk of the company’s assets without considering debt. It captures the business risk of the firm.

Financial Leverage

Financial leverage magnifies the equity beta, reflecting the additional risk borne by equity investors due to the company’s debt. Higher debt levels typically increase Levered Beta due to the higher risk of bankruptcy and fixed interest obligations.

Corporate Tax Rate

The tax shield provided by interest deductibility reduces the effective leverage impact, hence adjusting the Levered Beta.

Example Calculation

Consider a company with the following characteristics:

• Unlevered Beta (\(\beta_u\)) = 1.2
• Market Value of Debt (\(D\)) = $200 million
• Market Value of Equity (\(E\)) = $300 million
• Corporate Tax Rate (\(T_c\)) = 30%

Using the Levered Beta formula:

$$ \beta_l = 1.2 [1 + (1 - 0.30) \frac{200}{300} ] $$

$$ \beta_l = 1.2 [1 + 0.70 \times 0.6667] $$

$$ \beta_l = 1.2 [1 + 0.4667] $$

$$ \beta_l = 1.2 [1.4667] $$

$$ \beta_l \approx 1.760 $$

Thus, the Levered Beta is approximately 1.760, indicating that the company’s equity is 76% more volatile than the market.

Importance in Investment Decisions

Risk Assessment

Levered Beta helps investors understand the systematic risk of a company’s equity, including the impact of capital structure decisions. Higher Levered Beta suggests higher risk and potentially higher returns.

CAPM and Cost of Equity

Levered Beta is integral to the CAPM formula, which calculates the required return on equity:

$$ R_e = R_f + \beta_l (R_m - R_f) $$

where:

• \( R_e \) = Expected Return on Equity
• \( R_f \) = Risk-Free Rate
• \( R_m \) = Market Return
• \( \beta_l \) = Levered Beta

Related Terms

• Unlevered Beta: Represents the risk of a company’s assets without considering financial leverage.
• Systematic Risk: Risk inherent to the entire market that cannot be diversified away.
• CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model): A model that describes the relationship between systematic risk and expected return.
• Debt-Equity Ratio: A leverage ratio indicating the relative proportion of debt and equity used to finance a company’s assets.

FAQs

What is the difference between Levered and Unlevered Beta?

Levered Beta includes the effect of debt on a company’s risk, while Unlevered Beta measures the risk of the company’s assets excluding debt impact.

Why is Levered Beta important?

It provides a more comprehensive measure of risk for equity investors, accounting for the company’s capital structure and magnifying the potential volatility due to the use of debt.

How does debt affect Levered Beta?

Increased debt raises the Levered Beta, reflecting higher risk and volatility in the company’s equity returns due to fixed interest obligations and potential for financial distress.

References

• Damodaran, Aswath. “Damodaran on Valuation: Security Analysis for Investment and Corporate Finance.” Wiley Finance, 2006.
• Fabozzi, Frank J. “Handbook of Finance, Financial Management and Asset Management.” Wiley, 2008.

Summary

Levered Beta is an essential metric that captures the equity risk of a company, including the impact of its debt. By understanding Levered Beta, investors can better gauge the volatility and required return on equity investments, making informed decisions within the framework of financial models like CAPM. This tool thus plays a pivotal role in modern financial analysis and portfolio management.