The risk-free rate is the foundation of valuation; it represents what you can safely earn and is the base from which you build required returns for risky assets, making it essential to understand what constitutes truly safe investment.

definitionpending

Speaker

Aswath Damodaran

Evidence Quote

Risk-free rate is just the base from which you build off. Rather than make it a theoretical construct, think of it as this is what I would make if I made an absolutely safe investment or as close to that as I can get.

Source

Aswath Damodaran: I Am More Cautious Than EverThe Master Investor Podcast with Wilfred Frost
Created: 8/12/2026, 6:41:25 PM

My Notes

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