Testing the Validity of CAPM and APT in the Oil, Gas and Fertilizer Companies Listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange

Abstract

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Arbitrage Portfolio Theory (APT) have been commonly used techniques in the global investing community for calculating the required return of a risky asset. This paper investigates whether CAPM and APT are valid models for determining price/return of the fertilizer and the oil & gas sector companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). The purpose of the research is also to identify plausible reasons for deviations from the theories. The conclusions arrived at through data analysis reveal weak correlation between realized excess returns (i.e. actual returns over and above the risk free rate) and the expected return based on CAPM. With respect to APT model, the study reflects that macroeconomic factors including changes in GDP, inflation, exchange rate and market return do not serve as valid determinants of returns on oil, gas and fertilizer stocks.