📊 Cost of Equity Calculator – Estimate Expected Returns with Confidence
Use our free Cost of Equity Calculator to determine the expected return required by investors for holding a company’s equity. Whether you’re a finance student, analyst, or startup founder, this tool helps you make smarter, data-backed investment decisions.
✅ What is Cost of Equity?
Cost of equity refers to the return a company must offer to convince investors to invest in its equity. It reflects the **risk and reward** associated with owning shares. The higher the risk, the higher the return expected.
🔍 Why Use a Cost of Equity Calculator?
- ✔️ To determine the return shareholders expect
- ✔️ To evaluate the financial health of a company
- ✔️ To compare the risk-adjusted return of different stocks
- ✔️ To calculate **WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital)**
- ✔️ To improve your startup pitch or business valuation models
📈 Common Formulas Used
1. Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
Cost of Equity = Risk-Free Rate + Beta × (Market Return − Risk-Free Rate)
2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)
Cost of Equity = (Dividend per Share / Price per Share) + Dividend Growth Rate
Our calculator supports both models depending on the input you provide. You don’t need to remember formulas—we handle that for you.
💼 Who Should Use This Calculator?
- 🎯 Investors & Traders evaluating potential returns
- 🎯 Financial Analysts working on valuation models
- 🎯 Business Owners preparing to raise capital
- 🎯 Students learning finance, economics, or accounting
💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is a good cost of equity?
A “good” cost of equity depends on industry risk. A stable company may have a COE of 6-9%, while startups and high-risk firms may exceed 15%.
Q: How do I find beta for the CAPM model?
Beta can be sourced from finance websites (e.g., Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch) or estimated using regression analysis against a market index.
Q: When should I use CAPM vs. DDM?
Use CAPM when beta and market risk premium are available. Use DDM if the company regularly pays dividends and has a stable growth rate.
Q: Is this calculator useful for startups?
Yes. While startups may not have dividend history or beta, assumptions can be made to estimate the cost of equity for pitching or valuation.
Q: Is it free?
Yes. Our cost of equity calculator is 100% free and requires no login.
🚀 Try Our Cost of Equity Calculator Now
Ready to calculate your expected return? Try our calculator and unlock financial clarity: