Nile Food's Stock Has a Beta of 1

Multiple Choice

Nile Food's stock has a beta of 1.4, while Elba Eateries' stock has a beta of 0.7. Assume that the risk-free rate, rRF, is 5.5% and the market risk premium, (rM − rRF) , equals 4%. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) If the risk-free rate increases but the market risk premium remains unchanged, the required return will increase for both stocks but the increase will be larger for Nile since it has a higher beta.
B) If the market risk premium increases but the risk-free rate remains unchanged, Nile's required return will increase because it has a beta greater than 1.0 but Elba's required return will decline because it has a beta less than 1.0.
C) Since Nile's beta is twice that of Elba's, its required rate of return will also be twice that of Elba's.
D) If the risk-free rate increases while the market risk premium remains constant, then the required return on an average stock will increase.
E) If the market risk premium decreases but the risk-free rate remains unchanged, Nile's required return will decrease because it has a beta greater than 1.0 and Elba's will also decrease, but by more than Nile's because it has a beta less than 1.0.