FCF formula - two formulae are different?

Hi everyone:

This might be a dumb question, but I'm stuck on it and would really appreciate your help.

I'm reading both Breaking Into Wall Street and WSO PE guide, and it seems that they have two formula for FCF calculation that don't 100% tie up. I wanted to check if I misunderstood them...

From BIWS: FCF = CFO - capex
From WSO PE guide: FCF = EBIT (1- tax rate) + D&A+ net change in working capital - capex

If these two would be the same, then CFO would need to equal EBIT (1-tax rate) + D&A + net change in working capital. BUT, my understanding is that CFO = net income + D&A + net change in working capital, and net income = EBT (1- tax rate), not EBIT (1-tax rate)

Could some one please enlighten me on this?

Thanks!

 
Most Helpful

The first is levered free cash flow, and takes the company’s capital structure (debt and resulting interest expense) into account, which is primarily used in LBOs to see if a company’s profitability / cash flows can support certain debt levels. The second is unlevered and does not take interest into account, which is more commonly used in Equity valuation as it gives an “apples to apples” comparison across various businesses operations

 

The first is levered free cash flow, and takes the company’s capital structure (debt and resulting interest expense) into account, which is primarily used in LBOs to see if a company’s profitability / cash flows can support certain debt levels. The second is unlevered and does not take interest into account, which is more commonly used in Equity valuation as it gives an “apples to apples” comparison across various businesses operations

 

Perspiciatis voluptatum voluptas rerum omnis optio omnis harum. Fuga enim eos temporibus consectetur qui explicabo quis ut. Sed magni aut ratione pariatur nobis nam aliquid dignissimos.

Consectetur velit nihil perspiciatis aut nihil quidem. Aut explicabo aliquam sint ut enim mollitia.

Ut ullam debitis maxime illum reiciendis quasi cupiditate. Qui ea et voluptatem omnis.

Assumenda iure non perspiciatis rerum. Est officiis veniam aut adipisci. Accusamus est quia deserunt in enim non a. Voluptas qui iure laboriosam eos facilis sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (206) $266
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
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...”