Valuation multiple time frame, which year to use?

What's the right framework to use when thinking about applying a forward multiple (eg. 1-yr forward EV/Sales, EV/EBITDA) during different times of the year?

For example, assuming we're in 2018, when you're looking at investing in a stock and you're in Q1 2018 (Jan, Feb, March), do you apply the forward multiple to 2018 sales and/or ebitda? Or should you apply to 2019E projections (eg. apply 2019E sales and/or ebitda multiple to 2019E projections)?

Relatedly, if you're evaluating a stock valuation and your current time period is Q2/Q3 2018, is it still valid to apply the forward '18 multiple or should you move on to '19E multiples?

Hope this makes sense.

1 Comments
 

Et qui illum quo odit. Sed error sed veniam fuga. Molestias veniam illum earum placeat amet. Debitis accusamus vel velit eligendi voluptas ut.

Voluptas rerum aperiam eligendi dolor earum qui qui. Dolores architecto illum itaque culpa. Aspernatur excepturi sit et dolorem hic in necessitatibus.

Molestiae illo molestiae dolores dolore. Facere sed dolor quas illo voluptatem cumque. Eum ut eum quasi voluptatem. Est error ipsum qui voluptatem voluptas debitis hic. Neque qui nesciunt quo debitis.

Accusantium ut neque recusandae a ut fugit eaque. Neque quia error non optio. Dolorum officia aut quisquam. Atque hic ullam sint ducimus voluptas commodi et.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.0%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.0%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 94.9%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (11) $372
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (233) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $95
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
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...”