Launch offer — 25% off with code LAUNCH-25 See plans →
Microlesson · 5-min read

Cost of Equity — Realised Yield Approach

## Cost of Equity: Realised Yield Approach

Instead of projecting future dividends, the realised yield approach uses actual historical returns as a proxy for the required (expected) return.

### Single-Period Return

Ke = (D₁ + P₁ – P₀) / P₀ = Dividend Yield + Capital Gain Yield

### Multi-Period IRR Approach

For multiple years with irregular dividends, find r such that:

P₀ = Σ [Dₜ / (1+r)ᵗ] + Pₙ / (1+r)ⁿ

Use trial-and-error with linear interpolation — same mechanics as YTM for bonds.

### When to Use

When future dividends are unpredictable or irregular, historical realised return serves as a reasonable estimate of what investors require, given the stock's risk profile.

Worked example

### Example 1

Q29 — Single-period realised yield

Purchase price = ₹500; D₁ = ₹40; Expected P₁ = ₹520

Ke = (40 + 520 – 500) / 500 = 60/500 = 12%

### Example 2

Q23 — Mr. Mehra: 5-year realised yield (IRR)

Purchase price = ₹1,000; Annual dividend = 10% on ₹1,000 FV = ₹100/year for 5 years; Sale price = ₹1,128

Find r: 1,000 = 100 × PVIFA(r,5) + 1,128 × PVIF(r,5)

Try r = 12%:

PV = 100 × 3.605 + 1,128 × 0.567 = 360.5 + 639.58 = ₹1,000.08 ≈ ₹1,000

Ke ≈ 12%

### Example 3

Q22 — Multi-year annual returns averaged

YearDOpening P₀Closing P₁Return = (D+P₁–P₀)/P₀
11.009.009.75(1.00+0.75)/9.00 = 19.44%
21.009.7511.50(1.00+1.75)/9.75 = 28.21%
31.2011.5011.00(1.20–0.50)/11.50 = 6.09%
41.2511.0010.60(1.25–0.40)/11.00 = 7.73%

Average Ke = (19.44 + 28.21 + 6.09 + 7.73)/4 = 15.37%

### Example 4

Q30 — Jet Ltd: total return and cash inflows

100 shares bought at ₹225; FV = ₹10; Dividend = 25% on FV = ₹2.50/share; Year-end price = ₹267.50

Dividend income = 100 × 2.50 = ₹250

Capital gain = 100 × (267.50 – 225) = ₹4,250

Total return = 4,500 / 22,500 = 20%

If shares sold: Cash inflows = (100 × 267.50) + 250 = ₹27,000

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Omitting capital gain — realised yield has two components: dividend income and price change.
  • Using face value (₹10) as the dividend base — dividend % is always on face value, but the return denominator is market price paid.
  • In multi-period problems, arithmetic averaging is an approximation; for precise cost, use IRR.
Reference:
Now that you've read this — what's next?
Move from understanding → mastery in 3 clicks. Each option below picks up from this lesson's topic.
Start 15-min diagnostic