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Intrinsic value & DCF

Free Cash Flow to the Firm FCFF

The cash a business generates for all its investors — both debt and equity — after reinvestment.

Part of the Intrinsic Value & DCF course · Lesson 6 of 15
Formula
FCFF = NOPAT + D&A - Capex - Increase in Net Working Capital

What it is

FCFF is the cash left over from operations after paying for the capital spending and working capital the business needs, but before any payments to lenders or shareholders. Because it belongs to all capital providers, it is discounted at WACC in a firm-level DCF to estimate enterprise value. It is the most common cash-flow measure in valuation.

Why it matters

FCFF is the cash available to repay debt, pay dividends, and buy back stock, so it directly drives a company's value. Valuing the whole firm with FCFF, then subtracting net debt, is the standard route to an equity value and a per-share intrinsic value.

How it's calculated

Start from NOPAT, add back non-cash charges like depreciation and amortization, subtract capital expenditures, and subtract the increase in net working capital. An equivalent path starts from cash flow from operations, adds back after-tax interest, and subtracts capex.

How Quintarthai uses it

The cash-flow components for FCFF — operating cash flow, capex, and working-capital changes — are laid out across each company's Financials tab, including a 10-year history.

Cross-border note. Compute FCFF in the company's reporting currency. For a dual-listed Canadian firm reporting in CAD, build the DCF in CAD with a CAD discount rate, then convert the final equity value per share to compare against the US listing.

FAQ

What's the difference between FCFF and FCFE?
FCFF is cash available to all investors and is discounted at WACC to give enterprise value. FCFE is cash available only to shareholders, after debt payments, and is discounted at the cost of equity to give equity value directly.
Related terms
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