What is a football field chart?
A football field chart is used to summarize a range of values for a business, based on different valuation methodsValuation MethodsWhen valuing a company as a going concern there are three main valuation methods used: DCF analysis, comparable companies, and precedent transactions. These methods of valuation are used in investment banking, equity research, private equity, corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and finance. This guide includes a free Football Field Chart Template to download at the end of the page. The purpose of the chart is to show how much a buyer might be willing to pay for a business, whether acquiring all of it, part of it, or even a single share (depending on the audience).
Why is it called a valuation football field?
The charts are called this because the bars look like yard lines on an actual football field, and hence the name. Also, the graph is commonly used in investment bankingInvestment BankingInvestment banking is the division of a bank or financial institution that serves governments, corporations and institutions by providing underwriting (capital raising) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory services. Investment banks act as intermediaries between investors and corporations who require capital, and bankers like sports analogies.
Why use a football field chart?
The reason they’re used is to visually show what the range of values for a business are and see where, an average, a target valuation lies compared to several alternatives. It’s common to see these charts in an investment banking pitch bookInvestment Pitch Deck TemplateThis free pitch deck template is based on hundreds of investor presentations I've seen. Download the free template to build your investor pitch deck. This PPT template can be used to create your own pitch for raising capital or present to investors to tell your story. or equity research report, summarizing the various valuation methodsValuation MethodsWhen valuing a company as a going concern there are three main valuation methods used: DCF analysis, comparable companies, and precedent transactions. These methods of valuation are used in investment banking, equity research, private equity, corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and finance that were used.
The range of valuation methods typically include:
- Comparable Company AnalysisComparable Company AnalysisHow to perform Comparable Company Analysis. This guide shows you step-by-step how to build comparable company analysis ("Comps"), includes a free template and many examples. Comps is a relative valuation methodology that looks at ratios of similar public companies and uses them to derive the value of another business
- Precedent TransactionsPrecedent Transaction AnalysisPrecedent transaction analysis is a method of company valuation where past M&A transactions are used to value a comparable business today. Commonly referred to as “precedents”, this method of valuation is used to value an entire business as part of a merger/acquisition commonly prepared by analysts
- DCF AnalysisDCF Model Training Free GuideA DCF model is a specific type of financial model used to value a business. DCF stands for Discounted Cash Flow, so the model is simply a forecast of a company’s unlevered free cash flow discounted back to today’s value. This free DCF model training guide will teach you the basics, step by step with examples and images
- Recent High and Low Share Prices
How do you make a valuation football field chart?
Football fields are easy to make in Excel using the stock chart option.
Here are the steps of how to make a football field chart in Excel:
- Create a table in Excel with the range of values
- Insert a stock chart type called Open-Low-High-Close
- Set the Open and Low values as being the same
- Set the High and Close values as being the same
Download the free template
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With that in mind, CFI’s vast library of resources to help you along your journey. Here are some useful we think you will find valuable:
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- Lists of investment banksCareersA football field chart is used to display a range of values for a business. Download our free Excel football field chart template and learn how to make one in Excel. The reason they're used is to visually show what the range of values for a business are and see where, an average, a target valuation lies compared to
