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  1. Courses
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  3. Valuation and Investment Analysis

Valuation and Investment Analysis

This course introduces learners to the core principles, tools, and frameworks used in valuing businesses, investments, and financial assets.

Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald
Business | core | 9 hours |   Published: Oct 2025

    Discussions

Overview

1KSTUDENTS*
96.7%RECOMMEND*

This course includes:

  • On-demand videos
  • Practice assessments
  • Multiple hands-on learning activities
  • Exposure to a real-world project
  • 100% self-paced learning opportunities
  • Certification of completion

This course introduces learners to the core principles, tools, and frameworks used in valuing businesses, investments, and financial assets. It begins with foundational time value of money concepts and builds up to complete valuation models, including Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), market multiples, and precedent transaction analysis. Students will explore the strengths and limitations of different methods, practice applying valuation techniques using Excel, and learn how to interpret results in real-world decision-making contexts. Emphasis is placed on both intrinsic and relative valuation, as well as understanding how investor expectations and market trends influence valuation outcomes. The course concludes with applied case examples and best practices in synthesizing valuation insights for investors, managers, and analysts. 

Skills You Will Gain

Valuation
Forecasting
Analysis
Decision making
Interpretation

Learning Outcomes (At The End Of This Program, You Will Be Able To...)

  • Apply time value of money and discounted cash flow techniques to value projects and companies.
  • Use relative valuation methods such as market multiples and comparables analysis.
  • Interpret valuation results in the context of investment decisions and market expectations. 

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow) is recommended. Familiarity with Excel formulas and fundamental finance concepts such as interest rates or net present value will be helpful but not mandatory.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for finance professionals, analysts, investment managers, and students interested in equity research, investment banking, or corporate finance. It’s ideal for those who want to develop practical valuation skills and learn how to interpret results for strategic or investment decisions.

Curriculum

Instructors

*Where courses have been offered multiple times, the “# Students” includes all students who have enrolled. The “%Recommended” shown is also based on this data.
Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald

With over a decade of expertise in finance and economics, supported by a PhD in Finance and extensive teaching experience at Fairfield University, he is committed to delivering in-depth insights into financial accounting, analysis, and business valuation. His academic journey is distinguished by numerous publications on topics ranging from stock returns to bond market dynamics, reflecting a profound understanding of global financial markets. Renowned for his dynamic teaching style, he seamlessly blends theoretical concepts with real-world applications. He has taught a diverse range of courses, from foundational investments to advanced project analysis and factor-based investing, consistently crafting tailored coursework to enhance student learning outcomes. His professional background as a municipal bond trader and senior editor at Seeking Alpha brings practical insights and industry relevance to his instruction. This unique blend of academic rigor and real-world expertise equips students with critical analytical skills, empowering them to navigate today’s complex financial landscape with confidence. Passionate about knowledge dissemination, he excels in both traditional and e-learning environments, fostering an engaging and transformative learning experience. His courses are meticulously designed to make complex financial concepts accessible and actionable, bridging the gap between theory and practice. With a dedication to inspiring the next generation of finance professionals, he remains a trusted mentor and thought leader in the field.
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1Chapter 1: Time Value of Money Concepts
2Chapter 2: TVM Applications in Excel
3Chapter 3: Applying Discounting in Investment Analysis
4Chapter 4: Building a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Model
5Chapter 5: Relative Valuation Using Multiples
6Chapter 6: Choosing the Right Valuation Method
7Chapter 7: Introduction to AI in Financial Modeling
8Chapter 8: Practical AI Tools for Model Building
9Chapter 9: AI Governance, Validation, and Best Practices

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

Segment 00: Welcome to the Course: Course Overview

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!

You need to enroll in this course to access the curriculum. Click 'Enroll' to get started!