Why don't we consider the interest tax shield when calculating unlevered free cash flow?
I've been confused for a while but basically I'm not understanding why we use EBIT(1-T) which derives to Net Income + Interest (1-T) instead of just Net Income + Interest. Why are we removing the effects of the interest tax shield?
Unlevered FCF = cash the business has before paying its financial obligations. Accordingly, EBIT(1-T), also known as Net Operating Profit after Tax (NOPAT), is a measure of profit that excludes the costs and tax benefits of debt financing. For avoidance of doubt: EBIT(1-T) = earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) adjusted for the impact of taxes = NOPAT.
Answers below are all incomplete
Tax shield is included in WACC calculation by effectively reducing CoD. This way we can model a stable gearing going forward which would be pretty hard if you were to make a 3 statement model and had to guess how much debt you had to issue to achieve this.
Unlevered means no debt. No debt means no interest. No interest means no interest tax shield.
About as good as an explanation will get...
If unlevered FCF assumes no tax shield from tax, why does the corresponding WACC assumes leverage and tax shield (1-T) from debt?
Because we are not adding the tax benefit of debt to the cash flows (numerator), so we must do it through the discount rate (denominator) by taking the a/t cost of debt. It has to be one or the other, but not both as that will lead to double counting.
unlevered FCF is the amount of CF available to all investors, inc. both debt and equity. so you need to take into consideration the cost of both types of capital.
Et cupiditate quos perferendis sit exercitationem. Nulla soluta dolorem nostrum velit consequatur dignissimos nostrum. Occaecati possimus enim ut omnis rerum aut. Omnis vel quod dolorem ut omnis fugit est iure. Quis earum ad eum.
Unde cumque quae ipsam. Explicabo consectetur aut voluptatem in. Dolorum odit veritatis error itaque. Et occaecati recusandae ut perferendis nihil perspiciatis. Minima aut totam nisi incidunt assumenda.
Quis et reiciendis doloremque qui magni commodi vel. Sint autem exercitationem autem corporis et quia qui. Sed esse iste qui natus. Eos provident rem nam quia voluptas voluptatem ullam. Ratione quaerat expedita voluptatem repellat. Laborum iure repudiandae dicta consequuntur aliquam placeat. Est esse totam enim minus.
Est tempora sint eos. Dolores qui est et repellendus.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...