Question

You expect General Motors (GM) to have a beta of 1.5 over the next year and the beta of Exxon Mobil (XOM) to be 1.9 over the next year. Also, you expect the volatility of General Motors to be 50% and that of Exxon Mobil to be 35% over the next year. Which stock has more systematic risk? Which stock has more total risk?

Answer 1

Which stock has more systematic risk?

• Exxon Mobil (XOM)

Which stock has more total risk?

• General Motors (GM)

Step-by-step explanation:

Systematic risk refers basically to the stock's risk compared to the market risk, when the stock's beta = 1, its systematic risk is the same as the market risk. In this case, since XOM has a larger beta than GM, then its systematic risk is higher.

To calculate which stock has a higher total risk I just multiply the stock's beta times the expected volatility, and GM's risk is higher.