DCF Technical Question

Quick question. If the formula for LFCF = CFO - Capex - Debt Principal payment, why do you not account for principal repayment in a DCF? The typical guide says that you only go down to CFO in a DCF, but doesn't the LFCF also subtract out debt principal payment?

 

Sounds like you are confusing the uses of unlevered free cash flow (FCFF) and levered free cash flow (FCFE). 

The reason you don't generally use FCFE is because the model needs to be consistent / apples to apples. That means if you are discounting with WACC (99% of the time), you use FCFF and if you are discounting with CoE you would use FCFE. A DCF is fundamentally valuing the cash flows to the firm, which is independent of the cap stack, therefore interest and debt repayments are not factored in. 

 

Magnam enim laboriosam veniam ut porro eos ipsa. Laboriosam saepe est quaerat dolorem voluptates. Voluptas totam sed laudantium ut totam adipisci. Neque nostrum et earum quia.

Array

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 (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”