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DCF Valuation Step-by-Step: of Cash Flow Projection to Company Value

What you'll take away from this article
  • How to understand dcf-methode: definition and anwendungsbereich and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand free cash flow (fcf) definition and calculation and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand projectionperiode: 5-10 jahre in the tokunft and use it for your capital strategy
  • How to understand terminal value: gordon growth vs. exit multiple and use it for your capital strategy

DCF-Methode: Definition and Anwendungsbereich

The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)-BeValueung is a fandamentale Methode for Business Valuation. Sie basiert on dem Prinzip, thes the Value for a Company gleich dem BarValue all tokünftiger Cash Flows is. The DCF-Methode is besonthes geeignet for Company with Stablen, prognostizierbaren Cash Flows and will be intensiv in investment Banking and Private Equity verwendet.

Free Cash Flow (FCF) Definition and Calculation

The Free Cash Flow is the Moneymenge, The after investmenten dem Company for Verfügung steht:

FCF = EBIT × (1 - Tax Rate) + Abschreibungen - CapitalOutputn - Äntheung des BetriebsCapitals

Alternativ vom Netto-akommen fromgehend:

FCF = Nettogewinn + Abschreibungen - Capex - Δ BetriebsCapital

The FCF is unabhängig of the FinancingsStructure and stellt dar, how viel Value the KernBusiness generiert.

Projectionperiode: 5-10 Jahre in The tokunft

The typische Projectionhorizont liegt at 5-10 Jahren. Thes is a Kompromiss:

  • to kurz (<3 Jahre): Ignoriert the langfrisige Potenzial
  • to lang (>15 Jahre): Projectionn will be to spekulativ, Mistake verstärken sich
  • 5-7 Jahre: Standard for Stable Company
  • 8-10 Jahre: for hochgradig Growthsstarke Company

during the Projectionperiode shouldn FCF-Scenarios on realisischen Annahmen based: UmsatzGrowth, EBIT-Margin, Capital intensity and BetriebsCapitalveräntheungen.

Terminal Value: Gordon Growth vs. Exit Multiple

The Terminal Value repräsentiert den Value ab dem letzten Projectionjahr bis in Ewigkeit. Es provides zwei Ansätze:

1. Gordon Growth Method:

TV = FCF(year n) × (1 + g) / (WACC - g)

Here is g The ewige Growthsrate (meis 2–3%, not höher as langfrisiges GDP-Growth).

Example: FCF year 5 = €100 Mio, WACC = 8%, g = 2,5%

TV = 100 × 1,025 / (0,08 - 0,025) = 102,5 / 0,055 = €1.863 Mio

2. Exit Multiple Method:

TV = FCF(year n) × Exit Multiple (e.g. EV/EBITDA)

Example: EBITDA year 5 = €50 Mio, angenommenes Exit-Multiple = 12x

TV = 50 × 12 = €600 Mio

The Gordon-Growth-Methode is theoretisch funTherter; The Exit-Multiple-Methode is praxisorientierter and Considered Marktgegebenheiten.

Discounting: Cash Flows on GegenwartsValue reduzieren

all prognostizierten Cash Flows must with dem WACC as Discount Rate on The Gegenwart Reduces will be:

PV(FCF) = FCF / (1 + WACC)^n

Example for Jahre 1–5 with WACC = 8%:

  • year 1: €50 Mio / 1,08^1 = €46,3 Mio
  • year 2: €60 Mio / 1,08^2 = €51,4 Mio
  • year 3: €70 Mio / 1,08^3 = €55,6 Mio
  • year 4: €75 Mio / 1,08^4 = €55,1 Mio
  • year 5: €80 Mio / 1,08^5 = €54,4 Mio

Summe PV(FCF) = €262,8 Mio

The Terminal Value will be ebenfalls diskontiert: PV(TV) = TV / (1,08)^5

Enterprise Value bis Equity Value: The Bridge

The Summe the discount them Cash Flows plus diskontierter Terminal Value ergibt den Enterprise Value (EV). Um to Equity Value (Value for Shareholthee) to gelangen:

Equity Value = Enterprise Value - Nettoschulden + sonstige AssetssValuee

Here:

  • Nettoschulden = Finanzielle Liabilities - Barwithtel
  • Sonstige AssetssValuee = Assoziierte Company, Immobilien außerhalb the Balance Sheet, etc.

Example:

  • Enterprise Value (PV aller FCF + TV) = €800 Mio
  • Weniger: Nettoschulden = €150 Mio
  • Equity Value = €650 Mio
  • at 10 Mio Stocks = €65 pro stock

Vollständiges DCF-Calculation Example

Szenario: withtelständisches SoftwareCompany with Stablen Growth

agabegrößen:

  • WACC = 9%
  • Projectionhorizont = 5 Jahre
  • Terminal Value about Gordon Growth with g = 2,5%

Prognostizierte FCF (€ Mio):

year12345
FCF3036435057
Diskontfactor0,9170,8420,7720,7080,649
PV(FCF)27,530,333,235,437,0

Summe PV(FCF, Jahre 1–5) = €163,4 Mio

Terminal Value: TV = 57 × 1,025 / (0,09 - 0,025) = 58,4 / 0,065 = €898,5 Mio

PV(TV) = 898,5 × 0,649 = €583,3 Mio

Enterprise Value = 163,4 + 583,3 = €746,7 Mio

Annahmen for Bridge:

  • Netto-Schulden = €80 Mio
  • Equity Value = 746,7 - 80 = €666,7 Mio
  • at 12 Mio Stocks = €55,56 pro stock
What this means for you

When you apply this knowledge, you gain a concrete advantage over competitors who enter investor conversations without this foundation. Use the insights from this article as the basis for your next step.

Sensitivity Analysis and Liwithierungen

The DCF-Value is extrem sensitiv gegenabout klan Äntheungen des WACC and the Terminal-Growth-Rate. a 2D-Sensitivitytabelle (WACC vs. g) zeigt typischerweise ±20–30% Schwankungen atm Company Value.

Liwithierungen the DCF:

  • Projectionunsicherheit: FCF-Projectionn are spekulativ
  • Terminal Value dominiert: 70–80% des Valuees kommt from den letzten Jahren
  • WACC-Annahmen: Kla Mistake have großen afluss
  • not geeignet: for junge, unrentable or zyklische Company

Daher should The DCF Always through komparative BeValueungen (Multiples how EBITDA Multiple) and Szenarioanalysen ergänzt will be.

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Your advantage after this article

What you now know — and how to use it

  • You know the core concepts and can apply them directly to your situation
  • You know which mistakes to avoid — saving you time and capital
  • You understand how this building block fits into your overall strategy

Your next step: Have your situation professionally assessed — free and non-binding in an initial consultation with Daniel Huber.

Daniel Huber
Daniel Huber Gruender & CEO, CANVENA
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