The hottest Valuation Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

The Corporate Life Cycle: Managing, Valuation and Investing Implications

Musings on Markets • 1438 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
💼 Business Corporate Finance Valuation Investment Strategies Management Economic Trends
  1. Businesses, like people, go through life cycles. They start as new ideas, grow, and eventually decline if not managed properly.
  2. Companies age differently, impacting their strategies and financial health. Younger companies often focus on growth, while older ones need to defend their position or manage decline.
  3. The skills and qualities needed in leadership change with a company's age. A startup needs a visionary leader, while a declining company may require a pragmatic approach to manage its downsizing.

How to Value a Startup: Key Methods Every Investor and Founder Should Know

The VC Corner • 539 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
💼 Business Investing Startups Valuation Finance Entrepreneurship
  1. Valuing a startup is important but tricky since they often lack stable revenue. Founders and investors need to understand different methods to figure out a fair value.
  2. A successful valuation mixes both subjective and objective measures. This means looking at non-financial aspects like the team and market potential, as well as using data-driven methods.
  3. Two common methods for valuing startups are the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Method and Comparable Analysis. Both have their own steps and challenges, but they help paint a complete picture of the startup's worth.

How to Value a Startup: Key Methods Every Investor and Founder Should Know

The VC Corner • 459 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
💼 Business Startup Investment Valuation Entrepreneurship Market Analysis
  1. Valuing a startup is important but tricky because they often lack stable revenue. Founders and investors need to use different methods compared to established businesses.
  2. There are two parts to valuation: the 'art' involves looking at the startup's unique qualities like the team and product potential, while the 'science' uses data and metrics for a more objective view.
  3. A popular way to value startups is the Venture Capital Method, which focuses on future growth expectations. This helps investors estimate what a startup might be worth down the line.
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👑 Everything you need to know about valuation

Compounding Quality • 2614 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💰 Finance Valuation Investing Stocks Growth Earnings
  1. In the short term, stock prices are driven by fluctuations in valuation, while in the long term, they follow the intrinsic value of a company.
  2. When investing, it's crucial to buy stocks at a discount to their true worth to avoid poor results.
  3. Consider factors like Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) and expected growth when evaluating the value of a company to make informed investment decisions.

Weekend thoughts: Buffett's Wells Fargo Opportunity Cost $WFC

Yet Another Value Blog • 1159 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Opportunity Cost Valuation Portfolio strategy
  1. The concept of an opportunity cost stock is important in investing for making trade offs and decisions.
  2. Buffett's choice of Wells Fargo as his opportunity cost stock highlights the importance of timeless industries and consistent returns.
  3. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in managing opportunity cost stocks as circumstances and information change.

Swiggy's IPO inches closer to trading, and is the stock market dangerously overvalued?

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
💰 Finance Investing Markets Economics IPO Valuation
  1. Swiggy's IPO is almost finished and it's expected to have a very high valuation. Many people are excited about it, but there are some concerns too.
  2. The stock market might be overvalued right now, which could be risky for investors. It's important to stay informed about the market trends.
  3. There are various economic factors influencing the market, like changes in inflation and company performance. Keeping an eye on these factors can help investors make better decisions.

How to Sell Your Tiny Empire

Tiny Empires • 12 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Sales Valuation Negotiation
  1. Selling a business can be straightforward and profitable. Just agree on a price, create a contract, and transfer the assets to the buyer.
  2. Understanding your business's value is key. Most online companies sell for 4-4.5 times their annual revenue, but this can vary based on several factors.
  3. When you sell, you can choose between an asset sale and a share sale. Share sales are often better for you tax-wise, but they're harder to arrange.

Data Update 1 for 2024: The Data Speaks, but what is it saying?

Musings on Markets • 1099 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing Valuation Data Analysis Corporate Finance Market Trends
  1. All companies are included in data analysis to get a full picture, not just big ones. This helps avoid bias and shows a more accurate view of industries.
  2. The data covers many financial variables that help understand company decisions about investment, financing, and dividends. It also uses unique ways to calculate statistics for more accurate insights.
  3. The statistics are updated regularly to reflect the latest available information. Users should utilize the data wisely and be aware of any changes in accounting standards or currency issues.

Invisible, yet Invaluable: Valuing Intangibles - The Birkenstock IPO

Musings on Markets • 1139 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
💼 Business Finance Investing Valuation Market Trends Accountability
  1. Intangible assets, like brand names and management quality, are really important for a company's value but are often overlooked in accounting. Companies today get much of their worth from things you can't physically see.
  2. The way we value companies has changed a lot, especially with tech firms now leading the market. Investors need to think about future potential instead of just past performance, especially for newer companies.
  3. Birkenstock's upcoming IPO highlights how a strong brand and a loyal celebrity customer base can boost a company's value. The success of its stocks may depend not just on numbers but also on how the market feels at the moment.

Monzo hits $5bn valuation 🚀, A Guide to Founder Salary 💵, Entrepreneurship in Africa 💡, & more!

The VC Corner • 399 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Finance Valuation
  1. Monzo's valuation has reached $5 billion, showing strong growth in the fintech space.
  2. There's a guide available that helps founders understand how to set their salaries properly.
  3. Entrepreneurship is growing in Africa, highlighting new opportunities and innovations in the region.

Downside at NVIDIA (and the Nasdaq at large)

Philoinvestor • 491 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Valuation Semiconductors Artificial Intelligence
  1. NVIDIA's stock price increased significantly faster than its earnings, raising questions about its valuation.
  2. The launch of Chat GPT led to a surge in demand for GPUs and an uptick in NVIDIA's stock.
  3. Microsoft's $10 billion investment in Open AI and the AI hype train are contributing factors to the current market dynamics.

The VC Corner 📰 #10

The VC Corner • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Valuation Generative AI Investing
  1. Figma is lowering its company value, which shows that even well-known startups can face tough times. It's important for businesses to be realistic about their worth.
  2. Knowing how to value your startup is crucial for attracting investors. Different factors play a role in determining a startup's value.
  3. Generative AI is becoming a big topic and resource for many. Understanding it can help startups leverage technology for growth.

The Difference Makers: Key Person(s) Value!

Musings on Markets • 579 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
💼 Business Valuation Management Finance Entrepreneurship Investment
  1. Key people can significantly impact a business's value, whether it's a small practice like a doctor or a large company like Tesla. Even at bigger companies, certain individuals can make a big difference in how the business performs.
  2. Understanding who key people are in a company is crucial. These can include founders, top management, or even important employees at different levels who contribute unique skills.
  3. Companies can take steps to manage the risks that come with relying on key people, like using insurance or succession planning. These strategies can help ensure that the loss of an important individual does not as heavily affect the business.

Portfolio Review - January 2024

The Wolf of Harcourt Street • 399 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Portfolios Earnings Valuation
  1. The newsletter discusses investing in NU Holdings as a new position due to its growth potential in Latin America.
  2. The author shares insights on adding to their Auto Partner position, seizing an opportunity when the stock price dropped.
  3. The author presents a buy list, highlighting Evolution and NU as stocks to watch and potentially add to the portfolio.

Adyen N.V. Investment Thesis

The Wolf of Harcourt Street • 819 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
💰 Finance Investment Payment processing Competition Market Dynamics Valuation
  1. Adyen's success is attributed to its ability to simplify complex payment processing challenges for businesses, nurturing customer relationships and offering tailored solutions.
  2. Adyen competes in a crowded payment processing landscape, facing challenges such as intense competition, commoditization of payments, and the need to differentiate through value-added services.
  3. Adyen is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing digital payment market and expand its reach by supporting emerging technologies and offering versatile payment solutions.

AI Company List (1300 companies), Top 50 companies by valuation and my preferences - July 2023

Martin’s Newsletter • 569 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Valuation Investors Robotics
  1. The post includes a list of 1300 AI companies and 900 AI investors along with the top 50 companies by valuation.
  2. The author shares their personal 'Top 50' AI companies that reflect their personal interests and preferences.
  3. OpenAI is highlighted as a company with the potential to become a $1 trillion company due to talent, management, and the ability to put out better products faster than the competition.

Earnings, Cash Flows and Free Cash Flows: A Primer

Musings on Markets • 1538 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
💰 Finance Investing Valuation Cash Flow Equity Market Analysis
  1. Free cash flow (FCF) is a crucial metric that shows how much cash a company generates after covering its expenses and investments. It's often misused in finance, so it's important to know the real meaning behind it.
  2. When valuing a company, understanding its free cash flow helps in predicting future performance. Different methods are used based on whether you're looking at equity or the whole business.
  3. As companies age, their financial characteristics change. Younger companies usually have negative free cash flows while older, established companies tend to produce positive cash flows and return money to shareholders more consistently.

Good (Bad) Banks, Good (Bad) Investments: An Investing Perspective

Musings on Markets • 819 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💰 Finance Investing Banking Valuation Market Analysis Risk management
  1. Good banks tend to have stickier deposits, which help them maintain stability. Buying a good bank at a high price might actually lead to losses compared to buying a bad one at a low price.
  2. Valuing banks is tricky because their cash flows and risks are different from other businesses. Instead of using traditional methods, one should often use a dividend discount model or a free cash flow to equity model.
  3. The price of a bank's stock can differ significantly from its actual value. Understanding both the intrinsic value and market price is key to making smart investment decisions.

Nelnet Shows Some Skin

Mindset Value • 393 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
💰 Finance Investments Valuation Asset management
  1. Nelnet's book value has grown consistently and it has never had a losing year, which is impressive.
  2. Nelnet is undervalued as its book value does not reflect the true value of its businesses and investments.
  3. Nelnet's investments in companies like ALLO, solar energy, and HUDL show potential for significant growth and increased value.

New launches (part 1) - private capture, phantom pricing

Cobie • 171 implied HN points • 19 May 24
🔮 Crypto Investing Tokenomics Market Trends Valuation
  1. New token launches are tough to invest in because a lot of the price discovery happens in private markets, leaving regular investors with less opportunity. It's important to do your homework before jumping in.
  2. Higher valuations for new tokens now reflect more demand in the market, but many of these valuations don’t match the actual value of the tokens. It's key for investors to look deeper into the numbers behind the hype.
  3. Buyers should be cautious with low-float tokens, as they can be more easily manipulated. Understanding the float, FDV, and market demand is essential before investing.

Tesla in 2023: A Return to Reality, The Beginning of the End or Time to Buy

Musings on Markets • 839 implied HN points • 26 Jan 23
💼 Business Investing Valuation Market Trends Corporate strategy
  1. Tesla has grown rapidly, becoming a significant player in the auto industry, especially in electric vehicles. Its revenue jumped from $117 million in 2010 to $31.5 billion in 2020, showing strong growth potential.
  2. The company's success is closely tied to its founder, Elon Musk, whose vision drives Tesla forward. However, his dominant presence raises questions about the company's future if he steps back.
  3. The business landscape is changing, and even a successful company like Tesla must face traditional rules of business, like the need for investment and risk management, which is becoming more evident as competition increases.

What Did Buffett See in AAPL in 2016? Coca-Cola

Value Investing Substack • 353 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Analysis Valuation Portfolio
  1. In 2016, Apple stock was undervalued with a low P/E ratio, making it an attractive investment opportunity.
  2. Apple's brand strength and ability to create standardized products quickly were key factors that Buffett saw in the stock.
  3. Buffett's investment strategy in Apple was similar to his approach with Coca-Cola, focusing on consistent returns and solid fundamentals.

New Jersey Goes Rogue

Mindset Value • 353 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
💰 Finance Investment Market Analysis Company analysis Valuation
  1. New Jersey has limited licenses for cannabis companies, leading to high prices and lower quality products.
  2. Grown Rogue is entering New Jersey with their high-quality, low-cost cannabis, potentially disrupting the market.
  3. Grown Rogue's operational excellence and efficiency position them as a valuable investment opportunity in the cannabis industry.

How to Judge if a Stock is Overvalued or Undervalued

Shivansh • 79 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
💰 Finance Stocks Valuation Investing
  1. Stock valuation involves analyzing metrics like Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, comparing with others in the sector to identify overvalued stocks.
  2. Price-to-Book Value ratio is crucial for asset-heavy sectors like Adani Ports to make informed investment decisions.
  3. Understanding stock valuation methods can help investors save and grow their money effectively.