Best Ways to Model Bear/Bull/Base in Excel

How do y'all go about different case analysis when in Excel? Is there any easier way than either doing the whole model over again with bull and bear assumptions, or on the flip side just writing down the bull/bear with no justification in the valuation tab after running the numbers through the model once? 

13 Comments
 

As someone that has reviewed modeling tests on the PE side, it’s actually pretty surprising how many candidates (mostly IB analysts) don’t know how to build a dynamic operating model with the ability to properly toggle between cases. Don’t ever let this be the reason you don’t get a job in finance please. Others have already said, but there’s multiple ways you can go about this. Pull up any financial model online and walkthrough how to implement. But seriously, look up the choose function…

 

Im OP--And yes Im definitely a noob. So I see the choose() function, and I also know how to do sensitivity analysis using data tables, but I am referring to a large amount of assumptions which pertain to the bear,bull, and base cases (i.e. a bunch of operating model drivers would change depending on the case). So should I just use an if() function for all the operating line items that I am forecasting out? Willing to get flamed to know answer

 

I've seen multiple different versions of assumption mechanics, but I like to work with the below (simplified, but does the trick). The light grey row uses an OFFSET formula to take the relevant number based on the running case (which is a toggle). This grey row you'll then feed into your operating model.image 71

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