What is the Capital Allocation Line (CAL)?
The Capital Allocation Line (CAL) shows the risk-return combinations of all possible portfolios made up of a risky asset and a risk-free asset. It represents the optimal investment mix between risk-free and risky assets for investors with different risk tolerances.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your Risk-Free Rate (typically the yield on government bonds like Treasury bills)
- Enter the Expected Return of Risky Asset (historical average return of a stock or stock index)
- Enter the Risk (Standard Deviation) of Risky Asset (volatility or standard deviation of the risky asset returns)
- Click the Calculate button to see the Capital Allocation Line equation and optimal portfolio allocation
Understanding the Results
The calculator provides:
- The Capital Allocation Line equation showing the relationship between expected return and risk (standard deviation) of different portfolio combinations
- The optimal portfolio weights that maximize the Sharpe ratio (risk-adjusted return)
- The expected return of the optimal portfolio
Practical Applications
This calculator helps investors:
- Determine the most efficient mix of investments based on their risk tolerance
- Understand the trade-off between risk and return in their investment portfolio
- Make informed decisions about how much to invest in risky versus risk-free assets