Definition: External audits refer to independent examinations of financial information conducted by external auditors. These auditors are not employees of the company being audited and provide an unbiased assessment of the financial statements’ accuracy and compliance with accounting standards.
Fair Market Value (FMV):
Definition: Fair Market Value is the price at which a property, asset, or business would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts and neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell.
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization):
Definition: EBITDA is a measure of a company’s operating performance, calculated by adding back interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization to net income. It provides a clearer view of a company’s profitability by excluding non-operating expenses.
Valuation:
Definition: Valuation is the process of determining the economic value of an asset, business, or investment.
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF):
Definition: DCF is a valuation method that estimates the value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows, discounted to present value.
Comparable Company Analysis (CCA):
Definition: CCA is a valuation method that involves comparing a company’s financial metrics to those of similar publicly traded companies to determine its fair market value.
Intangible Assets:
Definition: Intangible assets are non-physical assets with no intrinsic value, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and goodwill.
Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate):
Definition: Cap Rate is a measure used in real estate and business valuation to estimate the potential return on an investment. It is calculated by dividing the property’s net operating income by its current market value.
Book Value:
Definition: Book Value is the value of an asset as recorded on a company’s balance sheet, calculated by subtracting accumulated depreciation from the original cost of the asset.
Liquidity:
Definition: Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price. It is a crucial factor in determining the value of an asset or business.
Synergy:
Definition: Synergy refers to the additional value generated by the combination of two businesses that is greater than the sum of their individual values. It is often a consideration in mergers and acquisitions.
Terminal Value:
Definition: Terminal Value is the estimated value of an investment at the end of a specific period, often used in DCF analysis.
Enterprise Value (EV):
Definition: Enterprise Value is a measure of a company’s total value, calculated by adding its market capitalization, debt, minority interest, and preferred equity, and subtracting cash and cash equivalents.
Multiples Analysis:
Definition: Multiples Analysis involves comparing the financial metrics of a company to those of its peers or industry averages, using ratios such as Price/Earnings (P/E) or Enterprise Value/EBITDA.
Goodwill:
Definition: Goodwill is an intangible asset that represents the excess of the purchase price of a business over the fair market value of its identifiable net assets.
Risk Premium:
Definition: Risk Premium is an additional return required by investors to compensate for the risk associated with a particular investment.
Beta:
Definition: Beta is a measure of a stock’s volatility in relation to the market, often used to assess the risk of an investment in the context of the overall market.
Sensitivity Analysis:
Definition: Sensitivity Analysis involves studying how changes in key variables, such as discount rates or revenue growth rates, impact the valuation of a business.
Cost of Capital:
Definition: Cost of Capital is the weighted average cost of a company’s debt and equity, representing the return required by investors to compensate for the risk associated with the company.
Due Diligence:
Definition: Due Diligence is the process of thorough investigation and analysis conducted by potential buyers or investors to assess the accuracy of information provided by a seller and to identify any potential risks.
Market Capitalization:
Definition: Market Capitalization is the total value of a company’s outstanding shares of stock, calculated by multiplying the stock price by the number of outstanding shares.
Scenario Analysis:
Definition: Scenario Analysis involves assessing the impact of different scenarios on the valuation of a business, helping to understand potential outcomes under various conditions.
Control Premium:
Definition: Control Premium is an additional amount paid for a controlling interest in a business, reflecting the power to influence decision-making.
EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes):
Definition: EBIT is a measure of a company’s operating performance, calculated by subtracting interest and taxes from its net income.
Capital structure
Definition:Capital structure refers to the mix of different sources of capital that a company uses to finance its operations and growth. It represents the proportionate blend of debt and equity that a company employs to fund its various activities. The two primary components of a company’s capital structure are debt and equity.
Debt:
Debt represents funds borrowed by a company, usually in the form of loans or bonds. Companies pay interest on this debt, and there is an obligation to repay the principal amount at a specified maturity date. Debt is a form of leverage that can amplify returns but also increases financial risk.
Equity:
Equity refers to the ownership interest in a company held by its shareholders. It includes common stock, preferred stock, retained earnings, and additional paid-in capital. Equity represents a claim on the company’s assets and earnings and does not involve a fixed obligation to make interest or principal payments like debt.