Discount for lack of marketability/liquidity

Hello

I am only a few months away from finishing my MFin and I'm now writing my master thesis. In my thesis I am trying to build a model for estimating illiquidity discounts (liquidity premiums), which I am going to compare to other methods used to quantify this discount. What I am trying to do right now is to get a picture of which methods are most popular among professionals. I have been in contact with some people working in IB and TAS and gotten some opinions from them, but I would like to get some more. Which method do you guys prefer?

The methods I am going to compare are:
- Put option models (Lookback options and average-strike puts)
- Factor models (APT and liquidity adjusted CAPM)
- Empirical models (Restricted stock studies, IPO studies and comparable transactions)
- Synthetic bid-ask spreads
- QMDM

Thank you!

On another note - Wasn't sure which forum to put this in so I went with what seemed like the most popular one.

3 Comments
 

Minus molestias non dolor aut est fugit expedita. Tempore voluptates assumenda sunt repellat nisi distinctio molestiae commodi. Cum tempore dolor assumenda voluptas perspiciatis repellendus. Voluptas non voluptas iste illo. Facere magni accusantium minus voluptatem voluptas sit quas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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

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...”