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Overview

DCF Valuation Modeling Course Overview

DCF Valuation is one of the most common valuation techniques used in modern finance today. This technique is flexible in that it can be used for very early-stage growth companies as well as established companies operating in more mature industries. Although DCF Valuation is one of the soundest valuation techniques, errors in DCF models are actually quite common. Finance professionals often make mistakes related to the calculation and pairing of the company’s cash flows and its discount rate. Errors related to the timing of cash flows or the valuation date are also quite common. Finally, many struggle with the right level of detail for income tax calculations and fail to correctly break out the current and deferred taxes in both levered and unlevered income tax schedules.

DCF Valuation Modeling Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand how DCF Valuation compares to Comparable Trading Analysis and Precedent Transaction Analysis and the pros and cons of each valuation technique.
  • Review the importance of upfront model design and the best layout for a DCF Valuation Model, which has been optimized for presentation and printing.
  • Discuss common errors made with income taxes and the need for both a levered and unlevered income tax schedule in the model.
  • Understand the importance of pairing the right cash flows (UFCF) with the correct discount rate (WACC) and review the steps for calculating each of these in detail.
  • Build separate schedules for both the perpetuity method and the multiple method for calculating the terminal value and discuss common errors related to timing.
  • Design and build a dashboard for stakeholders using one and two-dimensional data tables to illustrate the model’s sensitivity to critical valuation inputs.

Recommended Prerequisite Courses

These preparatory courses are optional, but we recommend you complete the stated prep course(s) or possess the equivalent knowledge prior to enrolling in this course:

  1. Financial Analysis Fundamentals 
  2. Accounting Principles and Standards
  3. Operational Modeling

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is most suitable for anyone working in valuation, including investment banking, equity research, private equity, and corporate development.

DCF Valuation Modeling

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Level 3

Approx 10h to complete

100% online and self-paced

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What you'll learn

Lesson
Multimedia
Exams
Files
Qualified Assessment

This Course is Part of the Following Programs

Why stop here? Expand your skills and show your expertise with the professional certifications, specializations, and CPE credits you’re already on your way to earning.

Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® Certification
DCF Valuation Modeling is part of the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® certification, which includes 42 courses.
  • Skills Learned Financial modeling and valuation, sensitivity analysis, strategy
  • Career Prep Investment banking and equity research, FP&A, corporate development

What our students say

Great
The course is very informative and explained in a way that makes it easy to understand for everyone, really worth the time spent on it.

Ahmed Mohamed

All you need to learn valuations
The most thorough I should say complete guide on how to create a DCF Valuation. Something that you may not learn from class, given how practical and easy to understand the course was. Something so complicated yet packed in such an easy to understand manner, really helps to create valuations from scratch.

Martin Abram

Very Formative
it provides complete and detailed insights of the DFC modelling. I found it very formative.

Fabio Capponi

Very good and extremely well explained
I have no comments, just being grateful

Samuel Suárez Marranzini

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What are the requirements to take the courses?
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Students are required to complete an online assessment (Multiple choice questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, and Excel Questions) at the end of each course. You can take the exams on your own schedule and will need to earn at least 80% to pass the course and earn your certificate of course completion. Please note that course exams can be repeated as many times as you need. Students are also required to complete the FMVA® final exam to earn their certification. How to Take a Qualified Assessment
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