Hazel Morrison, a mutual fund manager, has a $40 million portfolio with a beta of 1.00. The risk-free rate is 4.25%, and the market risk premium is 6.00%. Hazel expects to receive an additional $60 million, which she plans to invest in additional stocks. After investing the additional funds, she wants the fund's required and expected return to be 12.00%. What must the average beta of the new stocks be to achieve the target required rate of return?

a.

1.44

b.

1.76

c.

1.85

d.

1.94

e.

2.04