Why should you attend a valuation course?

A valuation certification course helps learners build practical finance skills, strengthen investment decision-making, and prepare for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, and portfolio management.

Who should enroll in this course?

This course is ideal for finance professionals, aspiring investment analysts, business students, and learners interested in investment analysis and portfolio management or corporate finance careers.

How is valuation used in financial markets?

Valuation helps investors, analysts, and organizations assess company worth, compare investment opportunities, manage risk, and support strategic financial decisions in capital markets.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Valuation and Investment Analysis

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Valuation and Investment Analysis

This course is part of Accounting and Financial Modelling Bootcamp Specialization

Instructors: Michael McDonald

Included with

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Apply time value of money and discounted cash flow techniques for valuation and investment analysis of projects and companies.
Use relative valuation methods, including market multiples and comparables analysis, in financial modeling and valuation.
Interpret valuation outcomes in the context of investment analysis, market expectations, and financial decision-making.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Microsoft Excel

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Accounting and Financial Modelling Bootcamp Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This course develops the core skills required for Valuation and Investment Analysis in corporate finance, capital markets, and strategic financial decision-making. Learners will gain practical expertise in financial and investment analysis, business valuation, and modern investment analysis techniques used by finance professionals, investment analysts, and corporate strategists.

The course begins by introducing foundational concepts such as the time value of money, discounted cash flow (DCF) modeling, and the estimation of free cash flow, WACC, and terminal value. Participants will learn what is valuation, how to valuate a business, and how intrinsic and market-based valuation approaches are applied in real-world financial environments. The course also explores widely used relative valuation methods, including EV/EBITDA, P/E ratios, comparables analysis, and precedent transactions. Using Excel-based financial modeling and valuation techniques, learners will build DCF models, conduct sensitivity and scenario analysis, and interpret valuation outputs in the context of investment risk and investor expectations. The course further examines simulation methods, governance practices, and the integration of AI tools into modern financial modeling and valuation. Designed for learners pursuing careers in investment analysis and portfolio management, corporate finance, investment banking, and strategic investing, this course provides practical exposure to industry-relevant investment analysis and strategy frameworks used across global financial markets. It is relevant for professionals seeking expertise in business valuation, financial modeling, and advanced financial investment analysis through online learning pathways. By the end of the course, participants will be able to apply advanced valuation frameworks to assess corporate value, analyze investment risk, and support data-driven financial decision-making across a range of financial and investment scenarios.

This module lays the groundwork for all valuation techniques by focusing on the time value of money. Learners will explore present value, future value, annuities, and discounting methods. The goal is to develop comfort with applying basic financial math to solve real-world problems involving cash flows, rates of return, and opportunity cost.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

11 videosTotal 68 minutes

Intro Video to Course 2 minutes
Module Introduction1 minute
Understanding WACC and Its Components 8 minutes
Calculating Cost of Equity Using CAPM 7 minutes
Cost of Debt and the Tax Shield Effect5 minutes
Calculating Unlevered Free Cash Flow7 minutes
Modeling Taxes, Depreciation, and Working Capital6 minutes
Building the Cash Flow Forecast Period8 minutes
Gordon Growth vs. Exit Multiple Method9 minutes
Present Value and Enterprise to Equity Bridge 8 minutes
Sensitivity Tables and Valuation Summary 7 minutes

2 readingsTotal 10 minutes

Welcome to the Course: Course Overview5 minutes
Time Value of Money: What It Is and How It Works 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Time Value of Money and Discounting Fundamentals20 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 30 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Estimating WACC and Unlevered Free Cash Flow30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

The Role of WACC in Corporate Decision-Making 10 minutes

This module introduces the most commonly used valuation models: the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model and relative valuation using multiples. Students will learn how to construct a DCF model using forecasted free cash flows and terminal value, and how to derive firm value using comparables like EV/EBITDA and P/E ratios. Emphasis is placed on understanding each method’s assumptions and limitations, and when to use each in real-world scenarios.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 75 minutes

Module Introduction 1 minute
Building the Cash Flow Forecast Period13 minutes
Toggle Switches and Output Tables 7 minutes
Probability Weighting and Expected Value Analysis8 minutes
Introduction to Simulation and Randomization9 minutes
Modeling Distributions in Excel9 minutes
Running Simulations and Interpreting Outputs6 minutes
Break-Even and Sensitivity to Assumptions8 minutes
Financial Covenant and Coverage Testing8 minutes
Liquidity Runway and Downside Resilience6 minutes

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

Time Value of Money: How to Calculate the PV and FV (CFI) 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Valuation Models: DCF and Multiples 20 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 30 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Building Scenario Toggles and Probability-Weighted Valuation30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

The Terminal Value Dilemma 10 minutes

This module explores how artificial intelligence is transforming financial modeling, from automating data gathering and cleaning to generating forecasts and stress-test scenarios. Learners will gain a practical understanding of AI tools available to finance professionals, learn how to apply them in model building, and understand the governance, validation, and risk considerations necessary for reliable results. By the end of this module, participants will be equipped to integrate AI into their workflows effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.

What's included

11 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews1 discussion prompt

11 videosTotal 60 minutes

Module Introduction 2 minutes
What is AI-Driven Financial Modeling? 8 minutes
Types of AI Tools and Their Applications in Finance 5 minutes
Benefits and Risks of AI in Modeling6 minutes
Using AI to Automate Data Cleaning and Input Gathering5 minutes
AI-Assisted Forecasting and Scenario Generation 4 minutes
Case Study: Applying AI to a Financial Model5 minutes
Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability in AI Models4 minutes
Risks and Cautionary Notes in AI Financial Tools 10 minutes
Integrating AI into Existing Financial Models7 minutes
Course Wrap-Up3 minutes

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

AI in Financial Modeling: Applications, Benefits, and Development 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes

Financial Modeling with AI 20 minutes

2 peer reviewsTotal 90 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Running Simulations and Sensitivity Analysis30 minutes
Project: Valuing a Company Using the Complete DCF Framework 60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Scenario Planning in Valuation 10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Michael McDonald

Starweaver

8 Courses3,212 learners

Offered by

Starweaver

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Frequently asked questions

This course teaches financial modeling with AI, DCF analysis, business valuation methods, investment risk assessment, and practical investment analysis techniques used in modern finance.

A business valuation course teaches how to assess the financial value of companies, projects, and assets using valuation frameworks such as DCF modeling, market multiples, and comparables analysis.

A financial modeling and valuation course focuses on building financial models, forecasting cash flows, analyzing investments, and evaluating business performance using Excel-based financial analysis techniques.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.