Partners healthcare case: Which is of commodities or real estate improve the risk return profile and the efficient frontier of the investments?

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Question restatement: Partners healthcare case: Which of commodities or real estate improves the risk-return profile and the efficient frontier of the investments?

Option B: 'REITs are better because they are less risky that n commodities.' This statement is flawed because it asserts REITs are categorically less risky than commodities, which oversimplifies risk profiles. In practice, both asset classes have distinct risk drivers (property markets, rental income, leverage for REITs vs. commodity price volatility, supply/demand shocks for commodities). The claim also doesn’t address how diversification benefits or correlations with other assets affect the efficient frontier.

Option D: 'Commodities improve the efficient because they have lower average correlations than REITS with other assets.' This is the key correct idea: commodities typically exhibit lower or different correlations with traditional asset classes (like stocks and bonds) compared to REITs, which can provide diversification benefits and potentially shift the efficient frontier upward and outward. The reasoning relies on diversification theory: lower correlation assets can improve the risk-return trade-off when combined in a portfolio, often expanding the frontier.

Option A: 'commodities help most because they offer the highest return.' This is incorrect as a blanket claim. Highest return does not guarantee improvement of the risk-return profile or a better efficient frontier, especially since commodities can be volatile and do not guarantee higher risk-adjusted returns. The assertion ignores risk and correlation considerations crucial to frontier optimization.

Option C: 'REITS are superior because they have higher return to risk ratio.' While REITs can offer attractive risk-adjusted returns in some periods, stating they are universally superior neglects the impact of correlations and portfolio diversification. A higher return-to-risk ratio for REITs alone does not ensure an overall improvement of the combined portfolio’s efficient frontier, particularly if correlations reduce diversification benefits.

Synthesis: The question centers on diversification effects and how correlations influence the risk-return profile and the efficient frontier. Assets with lower correlations to other holdings typically help in achieving a more favorable frontier by reducing portfolio risk for a given level of expected return. Among the options, only option D correctly identifies the diversification advantage of commodities via lower average correlations with other assets, which can expand and improve the efficient frontier. The remaining options misstate risk characteristics, overgeneralize performance, or overlook diversification benefits, making them incorrect.

BU.232.750.81.FA25 Final Exam Fall 2025- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Partners healthcare case: Which is of commodities or real estate improve the risk return profile and the efficient frontier of the investments?

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