Knowledge BaseIntrinsic value & DCF › Terminal Value
Intrinsic value & DCF

Terminal Value

The estimated value of all a company's cash flows beyond the explicit forecast period, in one figure.

Part of the Intrinsic Value & DCF course · Lesson 12 of 15
Formula
Terminal Value = FCF_(N+1) / (r - g); where g = perpetual growth rate, r = discount rate, g < r

What it is

Terminal value captures the worth of a business after the detailed forecast years end, since a company is assumed to keep operating indefinitely. It is added to the discounted forecast cash flows to complete a DCF. In many models it makes up the majority of the total estimated value.

Why it matters

Because terminal value often dominates a DCF, the assumptions behind it deserve the most scrutiny. A perpetual growth rate that is even slightly too high can inflate the valuation dramatically, which is a common way DCF models overstate intrinsic value.

How it's calculated

Two common methods: the perpetuity-growth method grows the final forecast year's cash flow at a modest constant rate forever and discounts it; the exit-multiple method applies a valuation multiple (such as EV/EBITDA) to the final forecast year. Both produce a value as of the last forecast year, which must then be discounted back to today.

How Quintarthai uses it

Historical free cash flow and margins that anchor a sensible terminal growth assumption are available on each company's Financials and Ratios tabs.

Cross-border note. Keep the perpetual growth rate at or below the long-run nominal GDP growth of the economy the company operates in — broadly similar for Canada and the US, typically in the low single digits. A growth rate above the economy's implies the company eventually becomes larger than the economy, which is impossible.

FAQ

Why does terminal value make up so much of the total?
Because it represents an infinite stream of cash flows beyond the forecast period, while the explicit forecast covers only a handful of years. It is normal for terminal value to be 60-80% of a DCF result, which is exactly why its assumptions matter most.
What growth rate should I use in the perpetuity method?
A conservative one, usually no higher than long-term GDP or inflation expectations — often around 2-3%. Using a rate near or above the discount rate breaks the formula and produces nonsensical values.
Related terms
See Terminal Value on a real company
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