Harvard Business Review

MARCH 31, 2017

If you’re not a numbers person, finance is daunting. But having a grasp of terms like EBITDA and net present value are important no matter where you sit on the org chart. After all, if you’re trying to sell a product or strategy, you need to be able to demonstrate that it is both practical and high margin.

Finance 8

Finance Skills EBITDA Net Present Value 8

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 8, 2018

Business students have traditionally considered net present value, payback period, and hurdle rates as necessary tools to determine which project to select. This notion, that risk is a desirable feature, can seem like sacrilege to anyone who’s taken an introductory finance course.

Report 8

Report GAAP Net Present Value CFO 8

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

This lack of an analytical approach has traditionally formed a barrier between marketing and finance. In our work with clients across dozens of sectors over more than five years, we have found that the strongest CMO/CFO partnerships develop when both parties undertake five actions: 1.

CFO 8

CFO Short-term Long-term Benchmarking 8

Harvard Business Review

MAY 1, 2017

Today, the average cost of equity capital sits at close to half that: just 8% for the roughly 1600 companies comprising the Value Line Index. So, in real terms, debt financing is essentially free. In these circumstances, strategies that generate faster growth create more value for most companies than those that improve profit margins.

ROE 14

ROE Long-term GDP Six Sigma 14

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

But why compare apples (book value) to oranges (share price and dividends)? Buffett explains that book value is the best proxy for "intrinsic value," the net present value of all estimated future cash flows. Consider that since 1965, Berkshire's book value grew 434,057% and the S&P index grew only 5,430%.

Letter 14

Letter P&L Net Present Value Insurance 14

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 7, 2011

Anyone who has had to make the argument for an investment knows the basic tool involved: a Net Present Value (NPV) calculation. The overall value of a foreign investment is equal to the NPV of the expected stream of profits for the life of the investment. If the owner of that subsidiary discounts profits in Egypt by 12.5

NPV 12

NPV Short-term Discount Politics 12