The Dark Side of Valuation: Firms with No Earnings, No History and No Comparables

54 Pages Posted: 7 Nov 2008

See all articles by Aswath Damodaran

Aswath Damodaran

New York University - Stern School of Business; New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business

Date Written: 1999

Abstract

In traditional valuation models, we begin by forecasting earnings and cash flows anddiscount these cash flows back at an appropriate discount rate to arrive at the value of a firm or asset. This task is simpler when valuing firms with positive earnings, a long history of performance and a large number of comparable firms. In this paper, we look at valuation when one or more of these conditions does not hold. We begin by looking ways of dealing with firms with negative earnings, and note that the process will vary depending upon the reasons for the losses. In the second part of the paper, we look at how to value young firms, often a year or two from start-up, with negative earnings, small ornegligible revenues and few comparables. We will argue that while estimation of cashflows and discount rates is more difficult for these firms, the fundamentals of valuation continue to apply. Finally, we look at how best to do relative valuation for young firms with negative earnings and few comparables.

Suggested Citation

Damodaran, Aswath, The Dark Side of Valuation: Firms with No Earnings, No History and No Comparables (1999). NYU Working Paper No. FIN-99-022, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1297075

Aswath Damodaran (Contact Author)

New York University - Stern School of Business ( email )

Stern School of Business
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New York, NY 10012-1126
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212-995-4233 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.damodaran.com

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business ( email )

44 West 4th Street
Suite 9-160
New York, NY NY 10012
United States

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