Fama-French Three-Factor Calculator
Expected return from market, size and value factors — the academic CAPM extension.
Inputs
Risk-free rate
Also called: Rf
Where to find it: Yield on 10-year government bonds (Bund, US Treasury).
How to derive: Use the current 10-year government bond yield.
Factor beta (market / SMB / HML)
Also called: Factor loading
Where to find it: From a factor regression — or as an assumption.
How to derive: Market beta ≈ 1; SMB (size) >0 = small-cap tilt; HML (value) >0 = value tilt.
Market risk premium
Also called: Equity risk premium
Where to find it: Long-run estimate (Damodaran publishes it yearly).
How to derive: Expected market return − risk-free rate. Typically 4.5–6%.
Factor beta (market / SMB / HML)
Also called: Factor loading
Where to find it: From a factor regression — or as an assumption.
How to derive: Market beta ≈ 1; SMB (size) >0 = small-cap tilt; HML (value) >0 = value tilt.
Factor premium (SMB / HML)
Also called: Factor premium
Where to find it: Long-run research estimates (Fama-French).
How to derive: SMB (size) ~2%, HML (value) ~3% p.a. — extra return of small / cheap stocks.
Factor beta (market / SMB / HML)
Also called: Factor loading
Where to find it: From a factor regression — or as an assumption.
How to derive: Market beta ≈ 1; SMB (size) >0 = small-cap tilt; HML (value) >0 = value tilt.
Factor premium (SMB / HML)
Also called: Factor premium
Where to find it: Long-run research estimates (Fama-French).
How to derive: SMB (size) ~2%, HML (value) ~3% p.a. — extra return of small / cheap stocks.
Result — live
Small value firms historically carry higher expected returns (= more risk = a higher discount rate!). Typical premiums: market 5–6%, SMB ~2%, HML ~3%.
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Fama-French Three-Factor Model Calculator
Calculate the market return, SMB factor, HML factor, and stock return.
Fama–French 3-Factor – Simple Calculator
Calculate a stock’s expected return / cost of equity using the Fama–French model. Use the 3 sliders below — realistic annual defaults are prefilled.
Advanced settings (optional)
Understanding the Fama and French Three-Factor Model
The Fama and French Three-Factor Model is one of the most widely recognized frameworks in finance, offering a more nuanced approach to explaining stock returns than the traditional Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). Developed by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French in 1992, the model extends CAPM by adding two additional factors: size (SMB) and value (HML). This innovation has profoundly impacted investment strategies and asset pricing. The model has been praised for its ability to capture more of the variability in stock returns than CAPM, making it a valuable tool for both academic research and practical investment.
The implications of the Fama and French Three-Factor Model have sparked a significant shift in how investors approach portfolio construction and risk management. By incorporating factors such as size and value alongside market risk, the model provides a more comprehensive understanding of stock returns and helps investors make more informed decisions. Researchers and practitioners alike have embraced this framework for its ability to enhance the accuracy of pricing assets and evaluating investment strategies in today’s dynamic financial markets. This model continues to shape the way finance professionals analyze and optimize their portfolios, underscoring its enduring relevance and impact on the field of finance.
Components of the Three-Factor Model:
- Market Risk Premium:
Similar to CAPM, this represents the excess return of the market over the risk-free rate. It captures the systematic risk affecting all investments.
- SMB (Small Minus Big):
The SMB factor accounts for the size effect, which reflects the tendency of small-cap stocks to outperform large-cap stocks over time. It measures the return differential between small and large companies.
- HML (High Minus Low):
The HML factor captures the value effect, representing the difference in returns between high book-to-market (value) stocks and low book-to-market (growth) stocks. Value stocks tend to outperform growth stocks over the long term.
What the Fama-French Calculator Does:
The provided Fama-French Calculator allows users to estimate stock returns based on the three-factor model. By inputting the relevant factors, market return, SMB, HML, and the stock’s actual return, the calculator computes the adjusted return using the Fama-French framework. This output provides insights into how much of the stock’s return is influenced by these three factors and can help assess its performance relative to the model.
The Fama French Calculator is a powerful tool used in finance to analyze and evaluate investment portfolios. This calculator is based on the Fama-French three-factor model, developed by Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, which takes into account market risk, size risk, and value risk when assessing the performance of investment strategies.
Investors use the Fama French Calculator to determine the expected returns of their portfolios based on these three factors, allowing them to make informed decisions about asset allocation and risk management. By inputting relevant data such as stock returns, market returns, and other factors, the calculator provides valuable insights into how different investments may perform under various market conditions.
The calculator is handy for both professional investors and individual traders looking to optimize their portfolios and maximize returns while managing risk effectively. Its ability to incorporate multiple factors into the analysis makes it a versatile tool for assessing the performance of diverse investment strategies and making data-driven investment decisions.
How to Use the Calculator:
- Input Market Return (%):
The overall return of the market portfolio. - Enter SMB (Small Minus Big) Factor (%):
The size premium, reflecting the return differential between small and large-cap stocks. - Enter HML (High Minus Low) Factor (%):
The value premium, indicating the difference between value and growth stock returns. - Input Stock Return (%):
The actual return of the stock or portfolio being analyzed.
How the Calculator works:
- The calculator subtracts the sum of the market return, SMB, and HML from the stock’s return to isolate the excess return explained by the Fama-French model.
- The result helps investors evaluate whether a stock’s performance aligns with the model or if other unexplained factors might be at play.
This tool is particularly useful for quantitatively inclined investors aiming to implement evidence-based strategies aligned with academic research.
Conclusion:
The Fama and French Three-Factor Model remains a cornerstone of modern finance, providing deeper insights into stock returns through its incorporation of size and value factors. Tools like the Fama-French Calculator simplify its application, offering practical insights for investors aiming to understand and optimize portfolio performance.
Fairvalue-Calculator, with its premium tools, complements this approach by offering comprehensive valuation models, risk assessments, and portfolio optimization features. Together, these tools and strategies empower investors to make data-driven decisions that align with the Fama-French framework, ensuring a more informed and strategic approach to building wealth.