Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
Definition
A valuation method that estimates the value of an asset or business as the present value of its expected future cash flows, discounted at a rate reflecting their risk and the time value of money.
Related Terms in Financial Analysis
Terminal Value
In a discounted cash flow valuation, the estimated value of all cash flows beyond the explicit forecast period, capturing the long-run value of a business as a going concern.
Enterprise Value (EV)
A measure of a company's total value including equity and debt, less cash. It reflects what it would cost to acquire the whole business and is used in multiples such as EV/EBITDA.
EV/EBITDA
A valuation multiple comparing enterprise value to EBITDA, widely used to value businesses because it is unaffected by capital structure and non-cash charges. Lower multiples can indicate cheaper valuations.
Net Debt
A company's total debt less its cash and cash equivalents, showing the debt that would remain if available cash were used to pay it down. It is a cleaner gauge of leverage than gross debt.
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