Which method is primarily used to value a company based on projected cash flows?

• A. Comparable Company Analysis
• B. Precedent Transaction Analysis
• C. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
• D. Replacement Cost Analysis

Answer: (C)

The method primarily used to value a company based on projected cash flows is Discounted Cash Flow (DCF). This valuation technique involves estimating the future cash flows that a company is expected to generate and discounting them back to their present value using an appropriate discount rate. The DCF method emphasizes the underlying cash flow generation of a business, allowing for the analysis of how much those future cash flows are worth in today's dollars.

DCF is particularly useful because it relies on fundamental financial principles, taking into consideration growth rates, operational performance, capital expenditures, and working capital needs. By projecting future cash flows, analysts can obtain a more intrinsic valuation of a company, which reflects its true earning power and potential profitability, rather than relying solely on market comparables or historical transactions.

Other methods, such as Comparable Company Analysis or Precedent Transaction Analysis, use market multiples derived from similar companies or past transactions to determine value, which does not focus on the specific projected cash flows of the company in question. Replacement Cost Analysis, meanwhile, assesses what it would cost to replace the company's assets, further diverging from cash flow considerations.