On this article, I’ll attempt to use the tactic proposed by Mr. Aswath Damodaran to calculate the Fairness Danger Premium of an Index. I’ll use the S&P BSE 500 index for our calculations. We are able to apply the identical methodology of calculation to the fairness danger premium (ERP) of particular person shares.
However earlier than continuing additional, enable me to let you know a bit concerning the idea of fairness danger premium.
The risk-free charge (Rf) in India is 7.2% each year as of as we speak. It’s the yield of a 10-year GOI bond. Now, how a lot common return we count on from our inventory market? Suppose an individual who invests in a Nifty-50 index ETF or Sensex ETF will count on a minimal return of 12% each year in the long run. That is our market return (Rm).
The distinction between our anticipated market return and the present risk-free charge turns into the danger premium.
System (ERP) = Anticipated Market Return (Rm) – RiskFree Fee (Rf)
Within the instance now we have thought of above, the anticipated market return was 12% and the present risk-free charge was 7.2%. Therefore, the fairness danger premium on this case is 4.8% (= 12% – 7.2%). Usually talking, Indian traders count on about 4.5%-5.5% danger premium once they put money into fairness.
Implied Fairness Danger Premium
Within the above instance, now we have usually assumed that the Nifty-50 index or Sensex will yield a 12% return. However take into account this, as of September 2024, the Nifty (19,500) and Sensex (65,800) are at near their all-time highs. Shopping for the index at these ranges, might not yield a 12% return within the subsequent 5-6 years.
The purpose is, that the value that we pay to purchase an asset (fairness) is necessary. Shopping for an undervalued inventory will yield increased returns. But when the identical inventory is purchased at overvalued worth ranges, it’s going to yield decrease or typically even unfavorable returns.
Therefore, the query that we traders all the time ask earlier than investing in fairness is, Is that this the best worth to purchase the inventory, index, or an fairness mutual fund?
Tips on how to reply this query? We usually do that by the use of financial ratios or by estimating the intrinsic value of stocks. Each are the strategies to worth shares.
Equally, implied fairness danger premium is a valuation methodology utilizing which we will inform if a inventory, index, or fairness fund is value investing or not.
Let’s use the tactic of Mr. Aswath Damodaran to estimate the Implied Fairness Danger Premium (IERP) of the S&P BSE 500 Index.
Implied Fairness Danger Premium of S&P BSE 500 Index

As of as we speak, the S&P BSE 500 Index is buying and selling at 27,353 ranges. We try to justify whether or not the market is overvalued or undervalued at these ranges of the index.
How we’ll do it? Let’s test the steps:
Step #1: Present Earnings of the Index
We’ll first attempt to estimate the present earnings of the index. It may be achieved by estimating the cumulative earnings (web income) of all of the constituent firms of the BSE 500 index. It may be simply estimated. Simply go to the online web page of the S&P BSE 500 index. On the web page, you will notice the value incomes ratio (P/E) of the index (presently it’s 23.88).
Take the inverse of the P/E ratio, it’s called earnings yield. It represents the web income generated by all constituent firms of the index per unit worth paid for the index.
- P/E Ratio: 23.88
- Incomes Yield: 4.19% (=1/23.88*100)
- Present Degree of S&P 500: 27,353.85
- Cumulative Earnings (Money Circulation): 1,145.47 (=4.19% * 27,353.85)
The worth of Rs.1145.47 represents the earnings the S&P BSE 500 index is presently producing.
Step #2: Estimate Future Earnings
Right here, we’ll should assume an appropriate earnings progress charge that we will apply on common to all BSE 500 firms. As we’re doing it for 500-odd firms, we have to be cautious with the assumed quantity. We can’t be overoptimistic as all firms won’t develop at a fair tempo.
We will additionally not be too pessimistic as a result of, in any other case it’s going to break our valuation calculations.
As we’re coping with numerous firms altogether, it’s going to carry some nice, common, and low-quality firms. In India, our common inflation is round 6%. These being a gaggle of BSE’s high 500 firms, I’ll assume a protected progress charge of 6.5% each year for the following 5 years [ProfitG (5Y)].
Past the fifth yr, I’ll assume a perpetual progress charge of (Gpp) of three.5% each year.
As soon as now we have these numbers in place, we are actually able to estimate the longer term earnings of the BSE 500 Index.
The long run set of earnings for the following 5 years and past (terminal worth) will appear like this:

- Present Incomes: 1145.47
- Subsequent 5 Years Incomes Progress Fee (ProfitG): 6.5% p.a.
- Perpetual Progress Fee (Gpp): 3.5% p.a.
- 2024_Earning: 1219.93
- 2025_Earning: 1299.22
- 2026_Earning: 1383.67
- 2027_Earning: 1473.61
- 2028_Earning: 1569.39
- 2028_Earning (TV): 1569*(1.035)/(D-0.035)
Step #3: Calculate Anticipated Return (D)
All future money flows that we’ve calculated in step #2 have to be discounted, at an appropriate charge (D), to their current values. The sum of the current values of all future money flows have to be equal to the current worth of the S&P BSE 500 Index (27,353.87 Factors).
It’s represented by this formulation:

Fixing for “D”, the above equation will give the reply 8.44%.
Inference: Investing at present ranges (27,353.87) within the S&P BSE 500 Index can provide a long-term return of 8.44%.
Step #4: Implied Fairness Danger Premium
The formulation for fairness danger premium is that this:
System (ERP) = Anticipated Market Return (Rm) – RiskFree Fee (Rf)
- Anticipated Market Return (Rm) = 8.44%
- RiskFree Fee (Rf) = 6.5%
- Fairness Danger Premium ERP: 1.94%
- Word: As of Sep-2023, the yield of the 10-Y authorities bond charge is 7.2%. Within the final 20 years, the yield of the federal government bond has modified rather a lot. The typical yield on this interval was 7.37%. However wanting ahead, I’m assuming that inflation in India will likely be cooler. Therefore, a 6.5% bond yield will likely be extra related.

Conclusion
Initially of this text now we have roughly estimated that, in India, individuals count on to earn a danger premium of round 4.5% to five.5% each year on their fairness investments. It implies that, if the present risk-free charge is 6.5%, traders could be glad in the event that they earn a minimal return between 11% to 12% from fairness.
We have now additionally calculated that on the present ranges of the BSE 500 Index (27,353.85 ranges), the fairness danger premium attainable will likely be only one.94% increased than the risk-free charge. It’s a clear indicator that the S&P BSE 500 is overvalued at these ranges.
These are the calculated implied fairness danger premium of different indices:
Index | Date | Present Worth |
Market Returns (D) |
RiskFree Fee (Rf) |
Fairness Danger Premium (ERP) |
S&P BSE SENSEX | 06-Sep-23 | 65,880.52 | 8.50% | 6.50% | 2.00% |
S&P BSE SENSEX 50 | 06-Sep-23 | 20,559.33 | 8.70% | 6.50% | 2.20% |
S&P BSE LargeCap | 06-Sep-23 | 7,454.00 | 8.55% | 6.50% | 2.05% |
S&P BSE MidCap | 06-Sep-23 | 32,122.06 | 8.10% | 6.50% | 1.60% |
S&P BSE SmallCap | 06-Sep-23 | 37,948.61 | 7.35% | 6.50% | 0.85% |
S&P BSE 500 | 06-Sep-23 | 27,401.79 | 8.38% | 6.50% | 1.88% |
S&P BSE AllCap | 06-Sep-23 | 7,961.72 | 8.30% | 6.50% | 1.80% |
On the present ranges, all indices look overvalued. So, it’s higher to keep away from investing out there for now.
The fairness danger premium of the SmallCap Index is the bottom. Out of all different shares, it’s the smallcap shares that will likely be most overvalued for now. So, for worth traders, small-cap is presently a no-go house.
A Key Takeaway
A very powerful facet of the Fairness Danger Premium (ERP) is that it represents the potential reward for taking up the inherent dangers related to investing in shares. In different phrases, it quantifies the extra return traders can count on to obtain from the inventory market in comparison with risk-free investments (like a financial institution FD).
This idea is essential as a result of it underpins many funding choices. Buyers want to grasp that the extent of danger they’re comfy with ought to align with their anticipated returns.
- The next ERP suggests the potential for higher rewards but additionally increased volatility and uncertainty.
- A decrease ERP implies a extra conservative, lower-risk funding with commensurately decrease anticipated returns.
In essence, the ERP serves as a elementary metric that helps us to strike a steadiness between danger and reward. It guides us in making knowledgeable choices about asset allocation, inventory choice, and long-term monetary planning.
By comprehending the importance of ERP, we will likely be higher geared up to navigate the complexities of the monetary markets and develop methods that align with our funding objectives and danger tolerance.
Have a cheerful investing.
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