Final answer:
Beta coefficients indicate relative market volatility, with a higher beta signifying greater volatility. Portfolio Y, with a lower beta, is typically seen as less risky, but this doesn't guarantee a lower standard deviation without additional data. Preference for Portfolio Y assumes risk aversion with equal expected returns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accuracy of the statement depends on the context of the term 'standard deviation' and whether it is directly attributed to the portfolios' betas or assumed from the risk-return profile. Typically, the beta coefficient of a portfolio is a measure of its volatility relative to the market, with a higher beta indicating higher volatility. Since Portfolio X has a weighted beta of 1.5 and Portfolio Y has a weighted beta of 0.8, Portfolio X would typically be seen as riskier in a market context because it is expected to experience larger fluctuations compared to the market average. However, the expected returns for both portfolios are the same.
Without additional information on the actual standard deviations of the portfolios, one cannot definitively say that Portfolio Y is preferred due to a lower standard deviation. Instead, the statement about preference would be based on the assumption that a lower beta suggests less risk, which might appeal to a risk-averse investor despite potentially lower returns. It is important to remember that a lower beta does not definitively equate to a lower standard deviation, as it only measures relative market risk and not the total risk, which standard deviation represents.