More Revenue-more Depreciation?

Hey guys,

If you are forecasting Depreciation as a % of Sales for 3-5 years in advance, how would you determine/ justify this percentage (in addition to just putting an average of the past years)

Thanks!

7 Comments
 

Well I guess if capex is a % of sales ... and depreciation is a % of capex ... then depreciation can also be projected as % of sales ... just saying. Agree it should be capex and frankly depends on how much is new capex and how much is maintenance capex

 

To previous comments, yeah I understand that depr is more closely linked to capex, but % sales is not inaccurate in most cases. You could also build out a depr schedule if you want to be that accurate.

To op, if their past depr has been within a close range as % sales then that you can take the average of the past few years or take the last year's number. You can do a variety of things to project the number with. If it hasn't been within a close range then maybe that isn't the best way to project and maybe you should base it off of capex or something else.

 

I suppose in a generic model it looks like depr is a % of sales... and conceptually it may seem non-intuitive. If you do think about the intricacies involved you would realize that your revenues cannot really grow unbounded forever (every generic model assumes this) unless you actually invest in capex. So yes, there is a relation between depr (coz of capex) and revenues, though it may not always be as simple as depr = x% of revenues

 
Best Response

I'd think a model that showed depreciation as % of sales was shitty. I accept the logic works while depreciation = function of capex = function of sales. However, if depreciation is linked to sales in the model and I sensitise the capex spend, depreciation expense would not adjust. That would be a shitty model. A shitty model that would make me shitty.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

Repudiandae hic expedita vel harum error. Dolorem aut expedita ipsam accusantium beatae. Ea accusamus tempora vitae amet optio occaecati. Sint natus fugiat mollitia distinctio aut et hic.

Maxime aliquam libero enim voluptas. Quo voluptatem quod molestiae magnam rerum facilis veniam. Pariatur eaque exercitationem architecto ipsum exercitationem. Magnam praesentium voluptates tenetur molestiae est pariatur quia. Ipsam facere mollitia adipisci optio amet. Doloribus laborum dolor nihil quia est voluptatem minima. Aut et eum earum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
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...”