A DCF in need of a good scrub

Company: Norfolk Southern Corporation

Industry: Transportation, logistics

Sector: Railroads

My main concerns about the model are as follows:

  1. What are the professional expectations are regarding the citation of references for the input assumptions; use a note or comment?
  2. In my exit multiple approach, using only base case assumptions, the TEV and share price is much higher than the results of the perpetuity growth method. Send help.
  3. The model makes use of switches but I’m thinking I should dial it back a bit. Again, thoughts? I want this model easy to use and practical.
  4. “There are no options excluded from the dilution calculations due to exercise prices exceeding the average market price of Common Stock for each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.”

If I’m interpreting the note from their 10k correctly, does this mean that there was no dilutive effect on shares due to the weighted average granted option prices being higher than common share prices?

Additionally, I often resorted to using historical averages in the base case most of the FCF line items. I did not forecast all three statements and instead calculated value as a percentage of “x”. I plan to forecast revenue and balance sheet to build a schedule for working capital items.

About the FCF Inputs:

Inputs for each line item are entered at the beginning of the forecast period with additional inputs at the end as a target. Built in some tapering toward these targets as well, but like above, not sure this functionality is needed. I've considered just making each year’s assumption an independent input itself.

Note: all comments have been left hidden to reduce clutter. I wasn’t sure if there was a standard practice one way or the other. You'll find notes with questions as well. Feel free to address those as well.

The entire 10k used for the DCF is also in the file. Unfortunately some of the tables did not import as tables (supporting tables, etc.)

Looking forward to feedback.

Attachment Size
Norfolk Southern DCF 200.99 KB 200.99 KB
 

Recusandae nihil consequatur eligendi blanditiis et quo iusto. Ad laudantium saepe enim. Sapiente dolor quo illum earum. Praesentium a consectetur quidem totam. Vel culpa itaque fuga et.

Iusto nostrum voluptas eum. Eum eos doloribus et quisquam dicta. Sit autem ut earum id. Aperiam libero in et voluptatem ut ipsum est. Odit consequuntur quia ea. Fuga aperiam illo vitae eius assumenda. Veniam cupiditate qui inventore aliquam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”