Equivalence of Ten Different Methods for Valuing Companies by Cash Flow Discounting

Abstract:     
This paper shows that ten methods on company valuation using cash flow discounting (WACC; equity cash flow; capital cash flow; adjusted present value; residual income; EVA; business's risk-adjusted equity cash flow; business's risk-adjusted free cash flow; risk-free-adjusted equity cash flow; and risk-free-adjusted free cash flow) always give the same value when identical assumptions are used. This result is logical, since all the methods analyze the same reality based upon the same assumptions; they only differ in the cash flows taken as the starting point for the valuation. We present all ten methods allowing the required return to debt being different from the cost of debt. Seven methods require an iterative process. Only APV and the business risk-adjusted cash flows methods do not require iteration.

JEL Classifications: G12, G31, M21

Working Paper Series