High Growth Phase — Years 1–5
The company is assumed to be in its strongest growth period. Cash flows are projected at the highest rate g₁, reflecting rapid expansion, market share gains, or strong earnings momentum over the next 5 years.
Transition Phase — Years 6–10
Growth begins to moderate as the business matures and competition intensifies. Cash flows in years 6–10 are projected at a lower rate g₂, bridging the gap between early explosive growth and long-term stability.
Terminal Phase — Years 11–20
The company is assumed to be fully mature, growing in line with the broader economy. The terminal growth rate g₃ (typically 3–4%, close to long-run GDP growth) is applied to years 11–20, representing sustainable perpetual growth.
IV
Intrinsic Value per share — the estimated true worth of one share based on discounted future cash flows over 20 years
OCF0
Operating Cash Flow — cash generated from core business operations, including D&A, before capital expenditures
g1
High growth rate (Yr 1–5) — auto-calculated from 3-year historical CAGR of cash flows; adjust based on your outlook
g2
Transition growth rate (Yr 6–10) — typically 60% of g₁, reflecting slowing momentum as the business matures
g3
Terminal growth rate (Yr 11–20) — long-run sustainable growth, typically 3–4% matching nominal GDP growth
r
Discount rate — converts future cash to today's value; auto-calculated via CAPM = Risk-Free Rate + β × Equity Risk Premium
D
Total Debt — sum of short-term and long-term borrowings; deducted from IV because debt is a prior claim on cash flows
C
Cash & Short-term Investments — liquid assets held by the company; added back to IV as they belong directly to shareholders
N
Shares Outstanding — divides total company value into per-share terms, making it directly comparable to the market price