Publications
Publications
- March 1980 (Revised October 1980)
- HBS Case Collection
Financial Leverage, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Cost of Equity Capital
Abstract
Demonstrates how the capital asset pricing model can be used to estimate the impact of financial leverage on the cost of equity capital. The levering and unlevering of betas are illustrated. Also presents a methodology for decomposing the cost of equity into its three components--the risk-free rate, a premium for business, and a premium for financial risk.
Keywords
Citation
Mullins, David W., Jr. "Financial Leverage, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Cost of Equity Capital." Harvard Business School Background Note 280-100, March 1980. (Revised October 1980.)