1215

Portfolio A earned a return of 10.23% and had a standard deviation of returns of 6.22%. If the return over the same period on Treasury bills (T-bills) was 0.52% and the return to Treasury bonds (T-bonds) was 4.56%, what is the Sharpe ratio of the portfolio?

A) 1.56.

B) 0.56.

C) 0.91.

---

Sharpe ratio = (R_p – R_f) / σ_p, where (R_p – R_f) is the difference between the portfolio return and the risk free rate, and σ_p is the standard deviation of portfolio returns. Thus, the Sharpe ratio is: (10.23 – 0.52) / 6.22 = 1.56. Note, the T-bill rate is used for the risk free rate.

1215

The mean monthly return on U.S. Treasury bills (T-bills) is 0.42%. The mean monthly return for an index of small stocks is 4.56%, with a standard deviation of 3.56%. What is the Sharpe measure for the index of small stocks?

A) 16.56%.

B) 10.60%.

C) 1.16%.

---

The Sharpe ratio measures excess return per unit of risk. (4.56 – 0.42) / 3.56 = 1.16%.

1215

Which of the following statements regarding the Sharpe ratio is most accurate? The Sharpe ratio measures:

A) peakedness of a return distrubtion.

B) excess return per unit of risk.

C) total return per unit of risk.

---

The Sharpe ratio measures excess return per unit of risk. Remember that the numerator of the Sharpe ratio is (portfolio return ? risk free rate), hence the importance of excess return. Note that peakedness of a return distribution is measured by kurtosis.

1215

Portfolio A earned an annual return of 15% with a standard deviation of 28%. If the mean return on Treasury bills (T-bills) is 4%, the Sharpe ratio for the portfolio is:

A) 0.39.

B) 0.54.

C) 1.87.

---

(15 ? 4) / 28 = 0.39

1215

Johnson Inc. manages a growth portfolio of equity securities that has had a mean monthly return of 1.4% and a standard deviation of returns of 10.8%. Smith Inc. manages a blended equity and fixed income portfolio that has had a mean monthly return of 1.2% and a standard deviation of returns of 6.8%. The mean monthly return on Treasury bills has been 0.3%. Based on the Sharpe ratio, the:

A) Johnson and Smith portfolios have exhibited the same risk-adjusted performance.

B) performance of the Johnson portfolio is preferable to the performance of the Smith portfolio.

C) performance of the Smith portfolio is preferable to the performance of the Johnson portfolio.

---

The Sharpe ratio for the Johnson portfolio is (1.4 - 0.3)/10.8 = 0.1019.

The Sharpe ratio for the Smith portfolio is (1.2 - 0.3)/6.8 = 0.1324.

The Smith portfolio has the higher Sharpe ratio, or greater excess return per unit of risk.