Intrinsic Valuation II.

Projecting Future Cash Flows

Projecting future cash flows involves estimating the company's revenues, expenses, and capital needs over a forecast period, typically 5 to 10 years. 

This requires assumptions about growth rates, profit margins, and investment in capital expenditures and working capital. 

The projections should be realistic and based on historical performance, industry trends, and economic conditions. 

Accurate forecasts are crucial, as they directly impact the valuation outcome in a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis.

Forecasting Cash Flows

Daniel bases his projections on QuantumTech's historical performance and industry trends. 

He forecasts 5% annual revenue growth, reflecting steady past growth. Operating expenses will stay at 60% of revenues, based on past efficiency. 

He expects capital expenditures to rise by 3% each year, while working capital will grow proportionally with revenues. 

Using these assumptions, Daniel calculates the expected free cash flows for the next five years, providing the foundation for his DCF valuation.

The DCF Formula

DCF values a business by turning future cash into today’s money. 

Each expected cash flow (FCFₜ) is divided by (1 + r)ᵗ, where r is the return you’d demand for risk and other opportunities. 

This “shrinks” later cash because a dollar tomorrow is worth less than a dollar now. 

Add up all these discounted amounts for years 1…n, then add a discounted terminal value for everything beyond.

Applying the DCF Formula

Daniel applies the Discounted Cash Flow formula by projecting QuantumTech’s future free cash flows and discounting them back using the 6.4% WACC. 

Each year’s FCF is divided by (1 + r)^t to reflect the time value of money, ensuring future dollars are valued appropriately today. 

For example, a Year 1 FCF of $420,000 discounted at 6.4% equals about $394,737. 

Daniel repeats this for five years and sums the values, creating the foundation of his intrinsic valuation.