Terminal Value calculation in a DCF

Hello Monkeys,

This is my first post and being used to read your high quality answers I am sure you will be able to bring me your lights
When we calculate the terminal value in a DCF we use:
(the last cash flow of our explicit horizon*g)/(WACC-g).
Then we have to discount this Terminal Value, and my question is: are we going to use the number of years of the explicit horizon or this number +1?
For example, we have a 5 year DCF. Do we discount the terminal value by 5 or 5+1=6?


Thank you for your answer

7 Comments
 

Thanks for your answer, I did a mistake, of course it's FCF*(1+g). My question was more about the number of years you use to discount your terminal value. Year 5 in a five year DCF or year 6 ?

 

Yes, like the other poster said. By doing the 1 + g, you’re calculating the 6th year, terminal cash flow, and then discounting it back 5

Array
 

You would discount the terminal value by 5 since you’d be calculating the terminal value at time 5. The formula for calculating any growing perpetuity at time 0 is FCF at time 1 divided by the growth into perpetuity (FCF*(1+g))/(WACC-g). In this case, since we’re calculating the perpetuity at time 5, we’d have to discount it to its present value by a factor of 5.

 

Facere incidunt odit excepturi accusantium est dolore laudantium. Sed voluptas voluptatem sed in. Vero cum eos voluptatibus omnis ut quos quia. Dolorem numquam animi nam alias assumenda repudiandae quia. Non porro doloremque autem rerum ducimus eveniet dicta eligendi. Voluptatem reprehenderit odio sequi. Tempora molestiae eos autem quae officiis.

Non eveniet harum voluptas animi ut excepturi consectetur ut. Laboriosam provident quos quos accusantium natus commodi vitae. Doloribus ipsa et ad sed nesciunt.

Est excepturi architecto repudiandae corrupti aliquid impedit. Quisquam reprehenderit quia consectetur rerum aut dolorum. Dignissimos qui ab aut ut possimus. Deserunt incidunt natus enim id impedit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”