rate of return, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation mike is searching for a stock ... Question: Rate of return, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation Mike is searching for a stock to... Rate of return, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation Mike is searching for a stock to include in his current stock portfolio. He is interested in Hi-Tech, Inc.; he has been impressed with the companys computer products and believes that Hi-Tech is an innovative market player. However, Mike realizes that any time you consider a technology stock, risk is a major concern. The rule he follows is to include only securities with a coefficient of variation of returns below 0.90. Mike has obtained the following price information for the period 2012 through 2015. Hi-Tech stock, being growth-oriented, did not pay any dividends during these 4 years. Stock price Year Beginning End 2012 $14.36 $21.55 2013 21.55 64.78 2014 64.78 72.38 2015 72.38 91.80 a. Calculate the rate of return for each year, 2012 through 2015, for Hi-Tech stock. b. Assume that each years return is equally probable, and calculate the average return over this time period. c. Calculate the standard deviation of returns over the past 4 years. (Hint: Treat these data as a sample.) d. Based on b and c, determine the coefficient of variation of returns for the security. e. Given the calculation in d, what should be Mikes decision regarding the inclusion of Hi-Tech stock in his portfolio?

I am really struggling with how the standard deviation is calculated.