Free cash flows In discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation, we value an asset by discounting the future cash flows we expect to receive from that asset. Three common valuation techniques for valuing equity are: Dividend discount model (DDM) – When we buy stock, we typically expect to get two types of cash flows – dividends during the period the stock is held and an expected price at the end of the holding period. Since this expected price also depends on future dividends, the value of a stock is the present value of dividends through infinity. In the strictest sense, the only cash flow you receive from a firm when you buy its stock is a dividend. Thus, the simplest model for valuing equity is the dividend discount model (DDM). 1

–Discounting dividends is usually the most conservative estimate of value for the equity in any firm, since most firms pay out less in dividends than they can afford to. –The dividend cash flows are calculated as D = Net income*(1-Retention ratio) = Net income * Payout ratio Retention Ratio = (NI – Dividends)/NI Payout Ratio = Dividends/NI 2

Free cash flows to equity (FCFE) –One problem that arises from using the DDM is that we may misvalue firms that consistently fail to return what they can afford to shareholders (i.e., if firms do not pay dividends even when they have no positive NPV projects to invest in). –The FCFE is the cash flow that is left over after meeting all reinvestment needs and making debt payments. So, this cash flow could be paid out as dividends, and therefore will yield a more realistic value of the firm. –The FCFE are calculated as –The equity reinvestment rate, i.e., the rate at which the company is reinvesting in the firm, net of borrowings) determines the future growth in FCFE. It is measured as 3

Free cash flows to the firm(FCFF) –The FCFF is the cash flow to all holders of capital in the firm, i.e., the equity holders and the bond holders. Free cash flows are essentially money that the firm can pay out to investors after reinvestment needs have been met. –Done consistently, the FCFE and the FCFF should give the same value for equity. However, the FCFE are after net debt issues or payments and become more difficult to estimate when leverage is changing over time. FCFF does not have this problem since these are predebt cash flows. –The FCFF are calculated as –The reinvestment rate, (i.e., the rate at which the company is reinvesting in the firm), determines the future growth in FCFF. It is measured as 4

Sources: – Damodaran, Investment Valuation, 2 nd ed. – Damodaran, Applied Corporate Finance, 3 rd ed. – Pinto, Henry, Robinson, Stowe, Equity Asset Valuation, 2 nd ed. – McKinsey & Company, Koller, Goedhardt, and Wessels, Valuation: Measuring and managing the value of companies, 5 th ed. 5