What are the fastest ways to learn how to do DCFs, Merger Models, and Transaction and Public Comps in Excel in 3 Days?

Hey fellow monkeys,

For an IB internship application due in three days, I have been asked to create a DCF, merger model, and write a one-page report on a certain company using public comps and transaction comps. The problem is that I have very little experience with these topics in terms of modeling in Excel. Also, I am given only three days to submit my response.

What are the fastest ways that I can learn how to do all of these valuation techniques in Excel?

Thanks!

4 Comments
 

Normally I wouldn't recommend them due to the cost but in this case I think your best bet is either Wall Street Prep ($425 through WSO, $499 on WSP website) or Breaking into Wall Street ($347) financial modelling courses. These courses are very good but normally I wouldn't recommend them as this is something one can learn by themselves if they have the time. Unfortunately, in 3 days you realistically don't.

BIWS doesn't include comps / precedents so if you do decide to go with BIWS, I'd use Rosenbaum & Pearl Investment Banking chapters 1 & 2 for that. Copy the end of chapter examples for layout / determining the valuation. Rosenbaum & Pearl also has a very good chapter on DCF (chapter 3), so if you want to save money you could go with R&B chapters 1 - 3 (pdf available online) and then find another resource on merger modelling.

 
"trader_timmy"

^ You don't need to spend $350+ to cram for a modeling assignment

Read this to learn how to put together a DCF, trading and transaction comps:
http://cec.shfc.edu.cn/download/ff9afd43-a63a-4c1e...

Go through this tutorial for your merger model:
http://macabacus.com/merger-model/introduction

Nope, you certainly don't. But it's an option for OP depending on what their resources are and how quickly they want to do it + if they wish to use one resource to minimise confusion. Which is exactly why I said above OP could use R&B IB Chapters 1 -3 for Comps, Precedents and DCF and use another resource for Merger Model.

 
Best Response

Velit veniam quis vitae et fugit quasi quia. Magni non sit velit cupiditate. Molestiae sed id quasi. Modi nesciunt dolorem aut tempora numquam ex quas.

Quos veritatis dolor enim doloremque voluptates eligendi. Quo odit asperiores accusamus aut enim qui. Vel non hic autem. In eaque adipisci nostrum rem sit blanditiis excepturi. Amet cumque ullam et corrupti.

Ipsum quasi est eum placeat similique dolores eius odit. Fuga et laboriosam molestiae dolorem dignissimos. Officiis id totam repellendus quis neque aut ut. Est sed voluptates dolores omnis. Voluptatibus et quam sapiente dicta laudantium iusto. Commodi non at asperiores debitis incidunt qui. Debitis molestiae autem cum porro.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • 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 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”