Beta
How much a stock moves relative to the overall market.
What it means
Beta measures a stock's volatility compared to the market, usually the S&P 500, which has a beta of 1.0. It is a quick gauge of how bumpy a ride to expect.
Formula
Derived by regressing a stock's returns against a market index (S&P 500 = 1.0)
Example
A beta of 1.5 means the stock tends to move 50% more than the market, up and down. A beta of 0.5 means it is half as volatile.
What is a good Beta?
This is about risk tolerance, not quality. Beta above 1 is more volatile (growth, tech); below 1 is steadier (utilities, staples). It measures volatility, not business quality.
See it on real stocks
Every stock analysis page shows Beta alongside the other key metrics: