How do you actually build your football fields — CapIQ, template, or from scratch?

Building football fields is a meticulous process, and based on the most helpful WSO content, here's how it's typically approached:

1. Setup Options:

   • Many professionals rely on CapIQ or FactSet plug-ins to pull data efficiently. These tools streamline the process of gathering comps, analyst targets, and other key inputs.
   • Others use firm-specific templates that are pre-designed for consistency and speed. These templates often include pre-built charts and formatting, reducing manual effort.
   • Some still prefer Excel from scratch, especially for customizations or when templates aren't available. This approach allows for full control but is more time-intensive.

2. Time-Consuming Steps:

   • Pulling and scrubbing comps: Ensuring the data is accurate and comparable can be tedious, especially if done manually.
   • Running DCF sensitivities: Adjusting assumptions and ensuring the outputs align with expectations takes time.
   • Formatting the chart: Making the football field visually appealing and presentation-ready often requires significant effort.

3. Recruiting Prep:

   • For interview preparation, candidates often build football fields manually to demonstrate their technical skills. Using Excel from scratch or a basic template is common, as it allows for defensible, line-by-line explanations during interviews.

4. Automation Potential:

   • While tools that generate football fields from a ticker might exist, trust and defensibility are critical in finance. Line-by-line defensibility ensures that every assumption and calculation can be justified, which is why the manual process persists. Automating the process end-to-end might be possible, but it would need to address these trust and customization concerns to gain widespread adoption.

If you're exploring automation, consider focusing on tools that assist with data gathering and initial setup while still allowing for manual adjustments and validations. This hybrid approach could strike the right balance between efficiency and defensibility.

Sources: What kind of tools / apps do you wish existed in the industry?, Modeling question: creating your own CFS, That’s Why He’s The GOAT | The Daily Peel | 12/19/22, Is Excel Inferior ?, 7 Practical Tips for Entering 1st Year IBD Analysts