Does lower risk mean lower return?

Asked by: Jillian Lesch II  |  Last update: February 27, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)

First is the principle that risk and return are directly related. The greater the risk that an investment may lose money, the greater its potential for providing a substantial return. By the same token, the smaller the risk an investment poses, the smaller the potential return it will provide.

What is the relationship between risk and return?

A positive correlation exists between risk and return: the greater the risk, the higher the potential for profit or loss. Using the risk-reward tradeoff principle, low levels of uncertainty (risk) are associated with low returns and high levels of uncertainty with high returns.

Does higher risk mean higher return?

High-risk investments may offer the chance of higher returns than other investments might produce, but they put your money at higher risk. This means that if things go well, high-risk investments can produce high returns. But if things go badly, you could lose all of the money you invested.

Is there less return with less risk?

The more risk assumed, the more the promised return. So, to increase return you must increase risk. To lessen risk, you must expect less return, but another way to lessen risk is to diversify—to spread out your investments among a number of different asset classes.

Does higher risk mean you will have a lower rate of return?

The statement "Generally, higher risk means you will have a lower rate of return on your investments" is False. In fact, the relationship between risk and return is typically positive; higher risk investments often offer the potential for higher returns.

🤓 Why lower risk doesn't mean lower performance. | FinTips

28 related questions found

Does low-risk mean low return?

So, remember, risk and return always go hand-in-hand - when one is low, so is the other one, and vice-versa.

How to know if a stock is high risk?

Other warning signs might include lower profit margins than a company's peers, a falling dividend yield, and earnings growth below the industry average. There could be benign explanations for any of these, but a bit more research might uncover any red alerts that might result in future share weakness.

What is the risk vs return rule?

ANY items(s) purchased that you don't love may be exchanged or returned, including Sale & Clearance merchandise and items received as gifts. Merchandise must be unwashed, unworn, and otherwise in its original condition. Returns must be made within 30 days of the date of purchase and be accompanied by a valid receipt.

Can you lose money in low risk investments?

Less likely to lose value, low-risk investments can make up part of a balanced portfolio. Please remember, investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. The value of international investments may be affected by currency fluctuations which might reduce their value in sterling.

What is a good risk-return?

In many cases, market strategists find the ideal risk/reward ratio for their investments to be approximately 1:3, or three units of expected return for every one unit of additional risk. Investors can manage risk/reward more directly through the use of stop-loss orders and derivatives such as put options.

How much would I have if I invested $1000 in Netflix 10 years ago?

For Netflix, if you bought shares a decade ago, you're likely feeling really good about your investment today. A $1000 investment made in November 2014 would be worth $14,248.59, or a 1,324.86% gain, as of November 7, 2024, according to our calculations.

Is it better to invest in high risk or low-risk?

Experts typically recommend a diversified portfolio containing a mix of low, moderate, and high-risk assets tailored to your goals, timeline, and risk tolerance. Some higher-risk assets allow for growth potential, while maintaining a core of stable investments hedges against volatility.

Can you end up owing money on stocks?

If you invest in stocks with a cash account, you will not owe money if a stock goes down in value. The value of your investment will decrease, but you will not owe money. If you buy stock using borrowed money, however, you will owe money no matter which way the stock price goes because you have to repay the loan.

What best describes the relationship between risk and return?

Risk-return tradeoff states that the potential return rises with an increase in risk. Using this principle, individuals associate low levels of uncertainty with low potential returns, and high levels of uncertainty or risk with high potential returns.

How do people earn money by investing in stocks?

Stockholders, or shareholders, can primarily make money in 2 ways: Share appreciation. When a company does well financially or becomes more desirable, the price of its stock can increase. This allows investors to sell their shares to other investors for more than they paid.

What is a moderate risk considered as?

Moderate Risk:

More involved or repeated disruption; behavior is more concerning. Possible threat is made or present. Threat is vague or indirect and lacks detail or realism. Information about the threat is inconsistent or lacks detail. Content of threat suggests threatener is unlikely to carry it out.

How to get 10% return on investment?

Investments That Can Potentially Return 10% or More
  1. Stocks.
  2. Real Estate.
  3. Private Credit.
  4. Junk Bonds.
  5. Index Funds.
  6. Buying a Business.
  7. High-End Art or Other Collectables.

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

Here are some ways investors can take less risk but still generate a decent return:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Money market funds.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs).
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Treasurys.
  • Dividend stocks.
  • Preferred shares.

What does it mean to invest with a low risk?

What is a low risk investment? Precisely what it says on the tin. An investment where there is perceived to be just a slight chance of losing some or all of your money.

Which investment is best for someone who is likely to need cash soon?

A savings account is the best investment option for someone likely to need cash soon due to its high liquidity and immediate access to funds. In contrast, CDs and mutual funds may involve penalties or delays in accessing money.

Why do some people invest in hedge funds?

Hedge funds can provide your portfolio with alternative sources of return and different risk exposures by accessing asset classes in unconventional ways, such as shorting, and greater use of derivatives and leverage. Some hedge fund strategies are designed to capture positive returns in all market environments.

What are two disadvantages of putting your money into savings accounts compared to investing?

  • Lower potential returns compared to investing.
  • Potential for savings accounts to fail to keep up with inflation, eroding your purchasing power over medium- and long-term time horizons.

What is a good PE ratio?

To give you some sense of what the average for the market is, though, many value investors would refer to 20 to 25 as the average P/E ratio range. And again, like golf, the lower the P/E ratio a company has, the better an investment the metric is saying it is.

How much of my portfolio should be high risk?

Most sources cite a low-risk portfolio as being made up of 15-40% equities. Medium risk ranges from 40-60%. High risk is generally from 70% upwards. In all cases, the remainder of the portfolio is made up of lower-risk asset classes such as bonds, money market funds, property funds and cash.