Up to date on June twenty sixth, 2025 by Bob CiuraSpreadsheet knowledge up to date every day
On the planet of investing, volatility issues. Traders are reminded of this each time there’s a downturn within the broader market and particular person shares which can be extra risky than others expertise monumental swings in value in each instructions.
That volatility can improve the danger in a person’s inventory portfolio relative to the broader market.
The volatility of a safety or portfolio in opposition to a benchmark – is named Beta. Briefly, Beta is measured by way of a method that calculates the worth threat of a safety or portfolio in opposition to a benchmark, which is usually the broader market as measured by the S&P 500 Index.
When inventory markets are rising, high-beta shares might outperform. With that in thoughts, we created an inventory of S&P 500 shares with the very best beta values.
You possibly can obtain your free Excessive Beta shares record (together with related monetary metrics comparable to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:
It’s useful in understanding the general value threat stage for buyers throughout market downturns specifically.
Excessive Beta shares aren’t a certain guess throughout bull markets to outperform, so buyers ought to be considered when including excessive Beta shares to a portfolio, as the load of the proof suggests they’re extra prone to under-perform in periods of market weak spot.
Nevertheless, for these buyers considering including a bit extra threat to their portfolio, we’ve put collectively an inventory to assist buyers discover the perfect excessive beta shares.
This text will present an summary of Beta. As well as, we’ll focus on how you can calculate Beta, incorporating Beta into the Capital Asset Pricing Mannequin, and supply evaluation on the highest 5 highest-Beta dividend shares in our protection database.
The desk of contents beneath offers for simple navigation:
Desk of Contents
Excessive Beta Shares Versus Low Beta
Right here’s how you can learn inventory betas:
A beta of 1.0 means the inventory strikes equally with the S&P 500
A beta of two.0 means the inventory strikes twice as a lot because the S&P 500
A beta of 0.0 means the shares strikes don’t correlate with the S&P 500
A beta of -1.0 means the inventory strikes exactly reverse the S&P 500
The upper the Beta worth, the extra volatility the inventory or portfolio ought to exhibit in opposition to the benchmark. This may be helpful for these buyers that want to take a bit extra threat out there as shares which can be extra risky – that’s, these with increased Beta values – ought to outperform the benchmark (in concept) throughout bull markets.
Nevertheless, Beta works each methods and may definitely result in bigger draw-downs in periods of market weak spot. Importantly, Beta merely measures the dimensions of the strikes a safety makes.
Intuitively, it will make sense that top Beta shares would outperform throughout bull markets. In any case, these shares ought to be reaching greater than the benchmark’s returns given their excessive Beta values.
Whereas this may be true over brief durations of time – significantly the strongest components of the bull market – the excessive Beta names are usually the primary to be bought closely by buyers.
One potential concept for this, is that buyers are in a position to make use of leverage to bid up momentum names with excessive Beta values and thus, on common, these shares have decrease potential returns at any given time.
As well as, leveraged positions are among the many first to be bought by buyers throughout weak durations due to margin necessities or different financing considerations that come up throughout bear markets.
Whereas excessive Beta names might outperform whereas the market is powerful, as indicators of weak spot start to indicate, excessive Beta names are the primary to be bought and usually, far more strongly than the benchmark.
Certainly, proof suggests that in good years for the market, excessive Beta names seize 138% of the market’s whole returns.
In different phrases, if the market returned 10% in a 12 months, excessive Beta names would, on common, produce 13.8% returns. Nevertheless, throughout down years, excessive Beta names seize 243% of the market’s returns.
In an analogous instance, if the market misplaced 10% throughout a 12 months, the group of excessive Beta names would have returned -24.3%. Given this comparatively small outperformance throughout good occasions and huge underperformance throughout weak durations, it’s simple to see why we want low Beta shares.
Associated: The S&P 500 Shares With Unfavourable Beta.
Whereas low Beta shares aren’t a vaccine in opposition to downturns out there, it’s a lot simpler to make the case over the long term for low Beta shares versus excessive Beta given how every group performs throughout bull and bear markets.
How To Calculate Beta
The method to calculate a safety’s Beta is pretty simple. The consequence, expressed as a quantity, exhibits the safety’s tendency to maneuver with the benchmark.
Subsequently, a Beta worth of 1.00 implies that the safety in query ought to transfer just about in lockstep with the benchmark (as mentioned briefly within the introduction of this text).
A Beta of two.00 means strikes ought to be twice as massive in magnitude whereas a detrimental Beta implies that returns within the safety and benchmark are negatively correlated; these securities have a tendency to maneuver in the other way from the benchmark.
This type of safety can be useful to mitigate broad market weak spot in a single’s portfolio as negatively correlated returns would counsel the safety in query would rise whereas the market falls.
For these buyers looking for excessive Beta, shares with values in extra of 1.3 can be those to hunt out. These securities would supply buyers a minimum of 1.3X the market’s returns for any given interval.
Right here’s a have a look at the method to compute Beta:
The numerator is the covariance of the asset in query whereas the denominator is the variance of the market. These complicated-sounding variables aren’t truly that tough to compute.
Right here’s an instance of the information you’ll have to calculate Beta:
Threat-free charge (usually Treasuries a minimum of two years out)
Your asset’s charge of return over some interval (usually one 12 months to 5 years)
Your benchmark’s charge of return over the identical interval because the asset
To indicate how you can use these variables to do the calculation of Beta, we’ll assume a risk-free charge of two%, our inventory’s charge of return of 14% and the benchmark’s charge of return of 8%.
You begin by subtracting the risk-free charge of return from each the safety in query and the benchmark. On this case, our asset’s charge of return internet of the risk-free charge can be 12% (14% – 2%). The identical calculation for the benchmark would yield 6% (8% – 2%).
These two numbers – 12% and 6%, respectively – are the numerator and denominator for the Beta method. Twelve divided by six yields a worth of two.00, and that’s the Beta for this hypothetical safety.
On common, we’d anticipate an asset with this Beta worth to be 200% as risky because the benchmark.
Fascinated by it one other approach, this asset ought to be about twice as risky because the benchmark whereas nonetheless having its anticipated returns correlated in the identical route.
That’s, returns can be correlated with the market’s general route, however would return double what the market did throughout the interval.
This could be an instance of a really excessive Beta inventory and would supply a considerably increased threat profile than a mean or low Beta inventory.
Beta & The Capital Asset Pricing Mannequin
The Capital Asset Pricing Mannequin, or CAPM, is a standard investing method that makes use of the Beta calculation to account for the time worth of cash in addition to the risk-adjusted returns anticipated for a specific asset.
Beta is a vital part of the CAPM as a result of with out it, riskier securities would seem extra favorable to potential buyers. Their threat wouldn’t be accounted for within the calculation.
The CAPM method is as follows:
The variables are outlined as:
ERi = Anticipated return of funding
Rf = Threat-free charge
βi = Beta of the funding
ERm = Anticipated return of market
The chance-free charge is identical as within the Beta method, whereas the Beta that you just’ve already calculated is just positioned into the CAPM method.
The anticipated return of the market (or benchmark) is positioned into the parentheses with the market threat premium, which can also be from the Beta method. That is the anticipated benchmark’s return minus the risk-free charge.
To proceed our instance, right here is how the CAPM truly works:
ER = 2% + 2.00(8% – 2%)
On this case, our safety has an anticipated return of 14% in opposition to an anticipated benchmark return of 8%. In concept, this safety ought to vastly outperform the market to the upside however needless to say throughout downturns, the safety would endure considerably bigger losses than the benchmark.
If we modified the anticipated return of the market to -8% as an alternative of +8%, the identical equation yields anticipated returns for our hypothetical safety of -18%.
This safety would theoretically obtain stronger returns to the upside however definitely a lot bigger losses on the draw back, highlighting the danger of excessive Beta names throughout something however sturdy bull markets.
Whereas the CAPM definitely isn’t good, it’s comparatively simple to calculate and provides buyers a way of comparability between two funding alternate options.
Evaluation On The 5 Highest-Beta Dividend Shares
Now, we’ll check out the 5 dividend shares with the very best Beta scores (in ascending order from lowest to highest) within the Positive Evaluation Analysis Database:
#5: Blackstone Group LP (BX)
Blackstone, based in 1985 by Peter Peterson and Stephen Schwarzman (nonetheless CEO), is without doubt one of the main funding companies globally.
On the finish of March thirty first, 2025, the corporate held $1.17 trillion in belongings beneath administration (AUM), working in Personal Fairness (32% of AUM), Actual Property (27%), Credit score (33%) and Hedge Fund Options (8%).
On April seventeenth, 2025, Blackstone posted its Q1 outcomes for the interval ending March thirty first, 2025. Administration and advisory charges equaled $1.90 billion, up 11% year-over-year.
Incentive charges grew by 7% to $191.8 million. Additional, efficiency allocations had been $825.3 million, down from $1.10 billion final 12 months. Thus, regardless of flat curiosity and dividend earnings at $97.4 million, whole revenues landed at $3.29 billion, down 11% year-over-year.
Distributable earnings throughout the quarter equaled $1.41 billion or $1.09 per share, up 11% year-over-year. Complete belongings beneath administration equaled $1.17 trillion, up 10% year-over-year, pushed by $199.1 billion in inflows throughout the previous 12 months.
BX has a Beta worth of 1.64.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on BX (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
#4: Lam Analysis (LRCX)
Lam Analysis Company (LRCX) was based in 1980 and headquartered in Fermont, California. The corporate designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and companies semiconductor processing tools used to manufacture built-in circuits worldwide.
Lam is a significant provider of wafer fabrication tools and companies to the semiconductor trade. Its merchandise handle varied functions, together with skinny movie deposition, single-wafer cleansing, and plasma tech.
The corporate has a market capitalization of roughly $108.7 billion, over 10,700 staff, and produced roughly $14.9 billion in income in 2024.
On April twenty third, 2025, Lam Analysis reported the third quarter outcomes for Fiscal Yr (FY)2025. Lam Analysis Company ends its fiscal 12 months on the finish of June. Lam Analysis Company reported sturdy monetary outcomes for the quarter ending March 30, 2025, with income of $4.72 billion, up 8% from $4.38 billion within the prior quarter.
U.S. GAAP gross margin rose to 49.0% (+160 bps), working earnings reached 33.1% of income (+260 bps), and diluted EPS elevated 12% to $1.03. Non-GAAP metrics confirmed a 49.0% gross margin, 32.8% working earnings, and diluted EPS of $1.04, up 14%.
LRCX has a Beta worth of 1.67.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on LRCX (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
#3: Utilized Supplies (AMAT)
Utilized Supplies is a significant participant within the semiconductor market, which makes up the vast majority of its income.
Utilized Supplies posted second quarter earnings on Could fifteenth, 2025, and outcomes had been blended. Adjusted earnings-per share got here to $2.39, beating estimates by eight cents. Nevertheless, income missed estimates by $20 million at $7.1 billion, rising 6.8% year-over-year. The entire firm’s reporting segments posted development in income.
Gross margin was 49.2% of income on an adjusted foundation, 170 foundation factors increased year-on-year. This was additionally the corporate’s highest gross margin for the previous 25 years.
Semiconductor Methods income was $5.26 billion, AGS income was $1.57 billion, and Show produced $259 million. Free money stream was $1.1 billion for Q2, and Utilized Supplies ended with money and equivalents of $6.2 billion, and debt of $6.3 billion.
The dividend was boosted once more, this time to $1.84 per share yearly. Administration additionally added $10 billion to the corporate’s share repurchase authorization, leading to $15.9 billion out there for future repurchases.
AMAT has a Beta worth of 1.68.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AMAT (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
#2: Nucor Corp. (NUE)
Nucor is the most important publicly traded US-based metal company primarily based on its market capitalization. The metal trade is notoriously cyclical, which makes Nucor’s streak of 52 consecutive years of dividend will increase much more exceptional.
Nucor is a member of the Dividend Kings on account of its dividend historical past.
On April 28, 2025, Nucor Company reported its monetary outcomes for the primary quarter of 2025. The corporate posted internet earnings attributable to stockholders of $156 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, a major lower from $845 million, or $3.46 per share, in the identical quarter of the earlier 12 months.
Adjusted internet earnings, excluding one-time expenses associated to facility closures and repurposing, had been $179 million, or $0.77 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.64 per share.
Internet gross sales for the quarter had been $7.83 billion, down 4% year-over-year however up 11% sequentially, pushed by a ten% improve in whole shipments to six.83 million tons, regardless of a 12% decline in common gross sales value per ton in comparison with the primary quarter of 2024.
The metal mills phase contributed $231 million in pre-tax earnings, benefiting from increased volumes and improved pricing, whereas the metal merchandise phase generated $288 million, going through strain from decrease common promoting costs.
NUE has a Beta worth of 1.69.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on NUE (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
#1: KKR & Co. (KKR)
KKR & Co is a world funding firm with belongings beneath administration (AUM) of $496 billion. KKR operates on 4 enterprise traces: Personal markets, public markets, capital markets, and principal actions.
KKR manages personal fairness funds that make investments capital for long-term appreciation by the Personal Markets enterprise line.
KKR & Co launched Q1 2025 outcomes on Could 1st, 2025. In Q1, KKR reported fee-related earnings of $823 million, up 23% year-over-year, and whole working earnings of $1.1 billion, which was a 16% improve.
Adjusted internet earnings reached $1.0 billion, marking a 20% rise. Price-related earnings grew 37% to $3.4 billion for the final twelve months, whereas whole working earnings climbed 32% to $4.5 billion.
Adjusted internet earnings totaled $4.4 billion, reflecting a 37% improve. KKR’s belongings beneath administration (AUM) rose 15% year-over-year to $664 billion, with fee-paying AUMs up 12% to $526 billion.
KKR has a Beta worth of 1.88.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on KKR (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Closing Ideas
Traders should take threat under consideration when deciding on potential investments. In any case, if two securities are in any other case related when it comes to anticipated returns however one affords a a lot decrease Beta, the investor would do properly to pick out the low Beta safety as it will supply higher risk-adjusted returns.
Utilizing Beta will help buyers decide which securities will produce extra volatility than the broader market, comparable to those listed right here.
The 5 shares we’ve checked out supply buyers excessive Beta scores together with very sturdy potential returns.
For buyers who wish to take some extra threat of their portfolio, these names and others like them in our record of the 100 finest excessive Beta shares will help decide what to search for when deciding on a excessive Beta inventory to purchase.
At Positive Dividend, we regularly advocate for investing in firms with a excessive chance of accelerating their dividends every 12 months.
If that technique appeals to you, it could be helpful to flick thru the next databases of dividend development shares:
Thanks for studying this text. Please ship any suggestions, corrections, or inquiries to help@suredividend.com.
