DCF Valuation Explained: Inputs, Math, and Pitfalls
DCF values a company as the present value of its future free cash flow. Here is the formula, a worked example, and the three inputs that break it.
investing basics
How an IPO Actually Works: S-1, Bookbuilding, Greenshoe
From S-1 filing to the greenshoe, how a private company actually goes public — underwriters, the roadshow, pricing, allocations, and stabilization.
Stock Buybacks Explained: Mechanics, EPS Math, Taxes
How share repurchases actually work — open-market vs ASR vs Dutch auction, the EPS math that drives them, SEC Rule 10b-18, and the 1% excise tax.
Enterprise Value Explained: When EV/EBITDA Beats P/E
Enterprise value captures the debt and cash that market cap ignores. Here’s the EV formula, the EV/EBITDA multiple, a worked example, and when it misleads.
Leveraged Buyouts 101: How LBOs Actually Work
How buyout funds use debt to acquire companies — the capital stack, IRR math, value-creation levers, and when LBO math breaks.
How ETFs Actually Work: Creation, Redemption, Tax Trick
How ETFs really work: authorized participants, the creation/redemption mechanism, in-kind tax efficiency, premiums/discounts to NAV, and Rule 6c-11.
Convertible Bonds Explained: When Debt Turns Into Stock
How convertible bonds work: conversion ratio, conversion premium, the bond floor, convertible arbitrage, and the four main types of converts.
Hedge Funds Explained: Strategies, Fees, and Structure
What a hedge fund actually is, the 2-and-20 fee structure with high-water marks, the four main strategies, and how hedge funds differ from mutual funds, PE, and VC.
Beta, Alpha, and CAPM: What They Actually Measure
Beta measures how a stock moves with the market. CAPM converts that risk into a required return. Alpha is what’s left over. Here is what each really means, with verified data.
REITs Explained: How Real Estate Investment Trusts Work
What is a REIT, the 90% dividend rule, equity vs mortgage REITs, why FFO matters more than net income, and why rising rates hit REITs first.