What happens when an investment has a beta of less than 1?

When an investment has a beta of less than 1, it indicates that the investment is less volatile than the overall market. Beta is a measure of an asset's risk in relation to the market; specifically, it examines how much the asset's price is expected to move in relation to market movements.

For example, a beta of 0.5 suggests that if the market moves by 10%, the investment is expected to move by only 5% in the same direction. This lower volatility can be appealing to risk-averse investors who prefer investments that are likely to be more stable during market fluctuations.

In contrast, a beta greater than 1 would signify that the investment is more volatile than the market, indicating a higher risk. A beta of 1 means the investment's price will move in lockstep with the market. Thus, a beta of less than 1 clearly defines an investment as being less reactive to market changes and, therefore, less volatile.