Posts by: WST Expert 1

Re: Lost Formatting in Excel '07
The way we build our models, we have circular references off by having a simple toggle to use beginning balance instead of average balance for interest expense/income. (Covered in great detail in our AdvFM-Core Model class). This also helps a bit with stability of the file, which seems like you're h... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: For the WACC, should I use YTM or coupon for cost of debt?
For WACC, you are supposed to use YTM, but for non-distressed, run-rate firms, we generally end up using coupon rate. For option-embedded bonds (putable, callable, exchangeable, convertible etc) technically neither YTM or coupon works since you must then incorporate TOTAL expected return on the capi... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: Calendarization
Our preference is to calendarize to EITHER the focus company being analyzed OR the client company. If in the context of a M&A, always calendarize to the ACQUIROR's fiscal year. In our retail case studies, all retailers had a Jan 31 fiscal year end (except for COST with Aug), so it would compl... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
Re: Balance Sheet Not Balancing
Remember, the key to balancing a model (in general and when modifying off a template) is DOUBLE-ENTRY ACCOUNTING. ANY account that changes on the BS must be reflected somewhere on the Cash Flow Statement. Sounds like you need to add a line in the Cash Flow Statement for that "new" line. ... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
Re: taxes
The figures from the tax schedule, primarily the CHANGE in DTA and DTL would actually update the BS line items as appropriate. (Beginning balance + the change). Then, under CFO (below D&A, above working capital items), you calculate the change in DTA and DTL from the BS (similar to the working ... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: Why arent lease payments considered future debt obligations?
Operating leases are off-balance sheet and are a result of an operating related decision and not a financing decision. The expense related to an operating lease would go under COGS or SG&A and not in interest expense (although, yes, there is an associated imputed interest expense, but ignoring t... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: Finance 101: DDM?
1) IRR will give you the rate of return on a series of cash flows. NPV will give you the net present value of a series of cash flows. IRR by definition is the rate that sets NPV to be zero. So the IRR of a cash flow series can be positive and NPV can be negative if the discount rate (an input into N... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: WMT's Net Revenue
Good question. You can go either way here. Reasons to support adjusting FX in revenue: - we did so in our deeper Segment Build-up for WMT's Revenue (but if you may recall, we did so ONLY to get a run-rate growth rate for WMT'International Segment not necessarily backing it out) - it's non-recu... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
Re: Projected balance sheet challenge
No, if your BS doesn't balance, chances are it is because every item on the BS that is changing from year to year is probably not properly reflected on the CF statement. Here are the general steps to checking and troubleshooting your non-balancing model 1) Check all your subtotals and totals on the ... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago
RE: How do you factor net operating losses (NOLs) in valuation?
NOLs are trickier - they are not typically factored directly as an asset with value in the sense of equity, debt and enterprise value, but rather, decreases the cash taxes paid, increasing free cash flow and thereby increasing overall value. Of course, NOLs can be valued separately by modeling out f... Read More
Go to post added 11 years ago