How do you factor in impending politics into valuation?

I am curious about how you all factor in impending political events into valuation. For example, if you think that the GOP/Democrats will become dominant in the senate (just an example, also curious about things like changes in Fed Chairman, world politics, natural disasters), what would you change in a DCF? Tax rate, perpetuity growth rate, etc.? By what amounts would you change inputs and how would you decide that (news, historical trends of when Party X was dominant, or just maintain what those inputs are now because those things are certain)?

I have asked basically interviewer this and have gotten cool answers, but would love to know what your approach is. I also understand that intrinsic valuation is very assumptions-based and that you can do anything, so long as it is logical/defensible, but want to see if there is any consensus on pure approaches.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Specifically with regard to politics, I don’t mean for this to sound snarky but if a person knew how politics impacts stocks he’d be a billionaire. There is nothing intuitive about how stocks perform based on Rs and Ds in power.

For example, maybe your tax rate goes up under the Ds but your discount rate goes down because the Fed lowers rates to counteract higher taxes, thus inflating equity prices during an anti-growth administration.

Trying to estimate how that will all work itself out is the fallacy of accuracy. I’d focus more on how a specific piece of legislation could impact a particular industry and a specific stock.

Array
 

Rerum enim accusantium enim repudiandae similique ut suscipit. Molestias deserunt dolore aliquid perspiciatis quod. Asperiores ipsam fuga est itaque voluptas adipisci.

In voluptas nihil harum fugiat recusandae minima esse. Nobis error et corporis quae. Accusamus praesentium magnam earum perspiciatis molestias eveniet et. Quisquam ab consequatur magnam sequi. Ea ex et veritatis quia in.

Quisquam ut velit optio exercitationem. Aut explicabo hic beatae aut exercitationem sint ut. Nemo quas nulla enim officia ratione laboriosam sunt.

Sed iste magni qui deserunt. Et in officia porro error ut animi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Guggenheim Partners No 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (23) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (81) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”