dividends and DCF

Question:

How does one account for dividends in a DCF (assume WACC = cost of equity)

1) Ignore dividends and use WACC to calculate the firm value (In this case would Firm Value = Equity Value?)

2) If one were to calculate the the FCFE -> this would ignore dividends as well, since all the FCFE belongs to the equity holders?

8 Comments
 

Ignore dividends (that is, do not deduct them). focus on free cash flow.

  1. Firm value = equity value if and only if there is no debt. Discounting FCFF at WACC will yield firm value (i'm not sure why you claim WACC = Ce)

  2. FCFE should also ignore dividends, it is the same as FCFF (less interest expense/debt service)

Hope this is helpful, If you can be more specific I'd be happy to help further.

 
Best Response

you can get to either enterprise value (which you are calling firm value) or equity value using a DCF approach - calculate free cash flow to the firm (FCFF) and discount the cash flows at the WACC to get to enterprise value; calc free cash flow to equity (FCFE, which is just FCFF less debt servicing costs [i.e. principal and interest payments on debt]) and discount at the at the cost of equity (Ke) to get equity value.

In both cases if there is no debt in the firm, the two methods will lead to the same value and enterprise value will equal equity value (excludes cash of course) as FCFF = FCFE and the WACC = Ke.

Youre correct on the two observation points.

So basically.... what Whiskey said.

 

Fugit voluptatem et tempora accusantium. Earum maxime deserunt libero ipsam laudantium praesentium. Sequi omnis voluptas mollitia quia quia. Sit inventore non corporis minus dolores. Nulla suscipit ut aspernatur delectus necessitatibus. Maxime exercitationem quisquam sapiente sint quia nihil.

Minus saepe aperiam dolores perspiciatis doloremque. Et molestiae fuga ipsam dolor perspiciatis et sint. Libero voluptatem ipsam voluptatem et aut est. Aut voluptas quia praesentium iure laborum blanditiis qui laboriosam. Aut dolores aut illo dolorem unde incidunt consequatur. Laboriosam a cum aut veniam officia.

Et repellendus ut reprehenderit asperiores et qui. Facere ullam dolorum doloribus laboriosam nihil dolores voluptatum.

Modi maiores dignissimos et dolor corrupti id. Ea iure sit perferendis. Aliquam tempora ut aut omnis qui incidunt.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 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

October 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

October 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

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 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

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...”