Beginners question DCF

Hi Guys,

Question with regards to following:

"If we assume that the coffee shop is in operation for 5 years and we use a 10% WACC, then its value would be: Value = 31,500 + 31,500/ 1.1 + 31,500/1.1^2 + 31,500/1.1^3 + 31,500/1.1^4 = $131,000"

Questions: 1. Why is there no terminal year value calculated? 2. The 31,500 is an estimate of the market size without growth assumpttions, isn´t this too oversimplified?

Thanks for providing some input...

10 Comments
 

1) Usually you assume the first cash flow comes in at t=1, but depends on the question. And since you stated the coffee shop is in operation for 5 years, there's no terminal value because that's for calculating the value of a company around for perpetuity (remaining a going concern).

2) If this was the number given to you in the question then use it, but if you assume the coffee shop is running at full capacity already and will not expand, then I would grow the cash flows at by some rate to account for inflation.

 

Ok, maybe its because english is not my mother tongue but i dont understand the first part...cld you please elaborate a bit upon when you do calculate a terminal year value to add to all calculated PV FCF and when not?

Thx in advance...

 
monkeymark1) 2) If this was the number given to you in the question then use it, but if you assume the coffee shop is running at full capacity already and will not expand, then I would grow the cash flows at by some rate to account for inflation.

If you are going to account for inflation in the cash flow, shouldnt you use real rates for when discounting the cash flows for each yr vs using the nominal rate?

 

thanks guys and with regards to a residual value of the shop after 5 years to incorporate as well, I dont know...wouldnt that be indeed something you look in to?

 
MPEthanks guys and with regards to a residual value of the shop after 5 years to incorporate as well, I dont know...wouldnt that be indeed something you look in to?

well,if you have a real estate asset (the store), that you plan on selling at the end of the 5 year period, you could probably include the forecast resale value of the store as a year 5 cash flow.

 

cash flows are calculated in nominal terms (see components ebit, nwc, etc.), therefore use nominal rates.

plus this is a simplified problem for academia, why would you worry about things that are not included in the problem? save urself some work, god knows how many dcfs u will have to do once u get into IB

 

Impedit doloribus laudantium dicta. Recusandae vitae et ad. Saepe nobis sit quam rerum voluptatem praesentium placeat.

Ducimus et sit voluptatem sed. Delectus consequatur doloremque qui quia et atque. Quia debitis aut aut est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”