A calculation of net present value made under the assumption that the firm, project, or investment is funded entirely by equity. This method uses the equity discount rate.
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) is a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of an investment opportunity. DCF analysis uses future free cash flow projections and discounts them to arrive at a present value estimate, which is then used to evaluate the potential for investment.
The time value of money (TVM) concept, key to discounted cash flow calculations, posits that cash received earlier is worth more than the same amount received later due to the potential earning capacity of money. Conversely, future payments are valued less than payments made in the present.
