Damodaran posts his first data update for 2025
At the beginning of each year, Professor Aswath Damodaran (New York University Stern School of Business) generously posts a great amount of data on his website that include risk-free rates, equity risk premiums (ERPs), corporate default spreads, corporate tax rates, country risk premiums, and other data—all of which are free.
Poll reveals methods and data sources for ERP
The Kroll Cost of Capital Navigator continues to be widely used and accepted for estimating cost of equity (COE), per the results of a poll during BVR’s recent Cost of Capital Virtual Conference.
Tomorrow! BVR’s Cost of Capital Virtual Conference
Tune in tomorrow, January 16, for BVR’s live virtual conference devoted to the cost of capital.
Next week: BVR’s Cost of Capital Virtual Conference
Mark down January 16 on your calendar for BVR’s live virtual conference devoted to the cost of capital.
The Continuing Evolution of the BUM
The author provides some very interesting reflections and perspectives, drawn from over 40 years of experience, and brings us up to date on this long-lasting method.
Valuation Report Excerpts Using Pepperdine to Estimate a Discount Rate
Sample language adapted from actual valuation reports using information from Pepperdine’s “2024 Private Capital Markets Report” to estimate cost of capital for a small business, including an adjustment for company-specific risk.
BV News and Trends August 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Retain Professional Judgment in Your Cost of Equity Estimates
Amid the barrage of emerging technology, artificial intelligence, and automated valuation models, there is a concern in the profession about the “black box” phenomenon of using these tools. Dr. Michael Crain (Florida Atlantic University), the author of the Cost of Capital Professional platform, talks about this with Ron Seigneur (Seigneur Gustafson LLP) during a demo of the platform.
Checklist for Reviewing a Valuation Report’s Discount Rate
This is part of a series on quality control for valuation engagements, which has emerged as the No. 1 concern at valuation firms and practices, according to BVR’s Benchmarking Survey. The checklist includes what should be included in the valuation report or workpapers as support for the cost of equity, cost of debt, and capital structure.
Kroll lowers recommended ERP to 5.0%
Kroll has decreased its recommended U.S. equity risk premium (ERP) from 5.5% to 5.0% when developing USD-denominated discount rates as of June 5, 2024.
BVU Cost of Capital Center adds more Pepperdine info
Starting with the August issue of Business Valuation Update, information on rates used in practice for company-specific risk, industry risk premia, and the size premium will be included in the monthly Cost of Capital Center.
BV News and Trends April 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Today! Free webinar on BVR’s cost of capital platform
Find out why over a third of survey respondents use BVR’s Cost of Capital Professional platform during a free webinar today, April 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. ET).
Review of Surveys on Cost of Capital Data Sources and Inputs
The Kroll Cost of Capital Navigator continues to be widely used and accepted for estimating cost of equity (COE). But BVR’s Cost of Capital Professional has been gaining considerable steam since its launch in 2018, according to a BVR survey. Some other resources for estimating the cost of capital have also seen an uptick in usage.
BV News and Trends March 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Kroll-recommended ERP remains at 5.5%—for now
The latest cost of capital infographic from Kroll has the firm’s recommended U.S. equity risk premium reaffirmed at 5.5% when developing USD-denominated discount rates.
Lower ERP likely for 2024, predicts Kroll
One of the “pivotal” trends for 2024 is a likely drop in the equity risk premium (ERP), predicts Kroll in its list of “10 Trends Shaping 2024.”
BV Year in Review 2023: Recruiting Push
The business valuation profession continued to thrive in 2023 amid ongoing challenges, such as how to reflect uncertainty, inflation, and market volatility in valuations. But another issue loomed large in the profession: attracting and retaining new young talent.
Damodaran posts his second data update for 2024
Focusing on the equity markets in the U.S. and across the world, Professor Aswath Damodaran (New York University Stern School of Business) has posted his second data update of 2024.
Damodaran posts his first data update for 2024
At the beginning of each year, Professor Aswath Damodaran (New York University Stern School of Business) generously posts a great amount of data on his website that include risk-free rates, equity risk premiums (ERPs), corporate default spreads, corporate tax rates, country risk premiums, and other data—all of which are free.
Kroll conducts survey of cost of capital inputs
In the last issue, we presented results of several surveys on the various resources practitioners use for estimating cost of capital.
BVR survey reveals COE data sources of choice
While the Kroll Cost of Capital Navigator continues to be widely used and accepted for estimating cost of equity (COE), BVR’s Cost of Capital Professional has been gaining considerable steam since its launch in 2018, according to a BVR survey.
Update on Current Inputs for Valuations Amid High Inflation
Carla Nunes and Jim Harrington, both with Kroll, present two very helpful charts on long-term inflation expectations and projections for long-term real GDP growth. The charts include the sources for developing the estimates.
Hitchner Updates the Risk/Return Spectrum for Cost of Capital
A good visual to use for checking the reasonableness of your cost of capital estimate is the spectrum of rates in the market. Jim Hitchner (Financial Valuation Advisors Inc.) has done an update to this spectrum, which can be used in valuation reports and in court.
Practical Considerations in Normalizing the Risk-Free Rate
Some valuation firms and practitioners have advocated that the risk-free rate of return (Rf) should be normalized when it is believed to be too low because of Federal Reserve Bank policies. Recent arguments for doing so have been based on technical economic analyses but have ignored practical aspects of normalizing Rf. This article is intended to address those practical considerations.