Technical Question Help

Received this question in one of my interviews.

How does an increase in the tax rate affect the DCF as well as the final enterprise value output?

I would assume that it affects the DCF in two ways:

  1. It would lower FCF because more of the operating income would be paid in taxes.

  2. It decreases the weighted average cost of capital because we multiply percentage of debt within the capital structure by the cost of debt and (1-Tax rate). Thus, increasing the tax rate would decrease the WACC that you use to discount future cash flows.

I'm assuming having a lower WACC would increase the enterprise value? I'm kind fo confused why an increase in the tax rate would increase enterprise value even though it lowers fcf.

4 Comments
 

Soluta quam omnis nihil voluptatum dolorum atque aut dolorem. Nostrum est consequatur est iusto molestiae illum sequi. Earum aut deserunt placeat repudiandae dolores at.

Sit quo eum omnis autem impedit. Neque pariatur totam voluptatem perspiciatis neque ea ut. Necessitatibus eligendi ut et totam nihil molestiae excepturi. Commodi molestias possimus sit amet occaecati sint natus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”