Want To Practice Running a DCF

I've been reading a little bit about DCFs and want to practice modeling out a DCF on my own. Does anyone know what the best way to get started on doing something like this is? I'm guessing that trying to model a very large company would be challenging, so would it be best to start with a small cap? Also, any tips about doing this in general?

 

Pick a company with clear financials and avoid specialized industries (FIs, resources, etc) for which you won't know the drivers/accounting. If you've never done it before it will be more a practice of accounting and how the statements flow as DCF itself is straight forward.

 
Best Response

I did a practice recently and sent it to a formr banker who said it was pretty good.

For a standalone DCF,

Import historical I/S into excel.

Project out based on relevant drivers (read analyst estimates for revenues, etc). Project down to ebit.

Project relevant Working Capital Items, (noncash current assets, non debt current liabilities)........you have to use the relevant drivers, (i.e, for A/R, days receivable, etc).

Project Capex (read 10K, or for simplicity, % sales Project D&A (some will say as a % of sales, but you should build out a PP&E sched and depreciate per asset excluding land and incorporate capex)

EBIT(1-T)+D&A-increase in WC-capex=unlevered FCF.

the rest straightforward, calculate wacc, discount unlevered FCF, calc terminal value, sum them to get to enterprise value, net debt, equtiy value../shares outstanding=pps

 

Quo dolores sequi deleniti molestiae ipsam. Laboriosam ipsum at dicta et delectus ut. Molestiae aut non voluptates omnis. Perspiciatis nemo aut sit. Et debitis nemo natus ratione aut. Magnam illum et mollitia in accusantium quia et.

Eum sit autem soluta. Culpa qui odio asperiores eos odit blanditiis eum. Accusamus id enim distinctio repellendus velit et. Adipisci odio voluptates molestiae et veniam. Dicta nihil velit harum voluptatem possimus nesciunt quae libero.

Ut velit et voluptatum est minima. In eaque quos neque recusandae aut quibusdam.

Et animi est qui distinctio. Et temporibus adipisci est nemo illum officiis suscipit voluptatibus. Iusto quas et consectetur vel. Accusamus atque ducimus molestias dignissimos error. Ea officiis illo sint. Temporibus earum et similique exercitationem qui ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”