Master
2024/2025
Building DCF Models in Practice
Type:
Elective course (Financial Analyst)
Area of studies:
Finance and Credit
Delivered by:
HSE Banking Institute
Where:
HSE Banking Institute
When:
2 year, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Master’s programme:
Financial Analyst
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The financial model is the most important tool for quantitative, as well as qualitative, analysis of an investment initiative. A model integrates all important business assumptions of a project sponsor, opportunities and restrictions of business, regulatory and other environments. Another feature of a quality financial model is that it provides a tool for measuring uncertainty (risk) and serves as a transparent instrument for presenting a base case (a scenario that appears most likely and acceptable) to key stakeholders of a project.You will learn in this course how to build a financial model for your project, including all pro forma financials and ratios that are used by equity investors and lenders. We will go through the path from a blank Excel workbook, discuss the best practice for financial modeling, dig into technical and financial aspects of the methods and ratios that we use in the model. The structure and principles laid out in this course could be used for any project to create a new business, launch a product or for venture investments. You will see that the approach we use is universal and the model we build in the course can be your template for many future projects.
Learning Objectives
- The goal of the course is to provide practical skills in financial modelling of investment projects by discussing best practice with the teacher as well as students work on their own projects
Expected Learning Outcomes
- After the course, students will have necessary knowledge and skills to build a fully fledged financial model for a project or a company. The model can be used to support investment decisions, raise capital or apply for debt financing
- To get necessary knowledge and skills to build a fully-fledged financial model for a project or a company. The model can be used to support investment decisions, raise capital or apply for debt financing.
Course Contents
- 1) Introduction. Building a financial model: data flow, structure and design
- 2) Modeling a project’s economics
- 3) Modeling taxes
- 4) Modeling financing structures
- 5) Technical aspects: accuracy and integrity of a financial model, some VBA macros for enhanced model functionality
- 6) Model outcomes: pro forma financial statements; cash flows and their discounting; performance metrics for equity investors, lenders, other stakeholders (the state)
- 7) Risk measures. Comparison of select financial model types.
Assessment Elements
- HomeworkHomework consists in three tasks that will be provided each 2 weeks during the course. The weight of each home task is distributed equally: each task is assigned 10% of the total weight in the course grade.
- Final ExamAt the course end, the students will be asked to complete a multiple-choice test (90 min) containing theoretical and practical questions from the course.
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- McKinsey & Company Inc, Tim Koller, Marc Goedhart, & David Wessels. (2020). Valuation : Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, University Edition. Wiley.
- Rosenbaum, J., & Pearl, J. (2013). Investment Banking : Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions (Vol. 2nd ed). Hoboken: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=981384
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Nantell, T. J. (1991). Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies. Journal of Finance (Wiley-Blackwell), 46(1), 459–463. https://doi.org/10.2307/2328707