fbpixel 101 concepts level I | IFT World - Part 7

Category: 101 Concepts for Level I

Concept 60: NPV Profile

NPV profile shows the sensitivity of a project’s NPV for different discount rates. It is plotted on a graph where NPVs are on the y-axis with the discount rates on the x-axis. Crossover rate is the discount rate at which the NPVs of both the projects are equal. The differences in timings of cash flows cause the two profiles to intersect and crossover. Both NPV profiles intersect x axis where their NPVs are 0 i.e. at their IRRs. In the above NPV profile, if Project I and Project D are mutually exclusive projects, for discount rates greater than 10%, Project… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 61: Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

It is the overall cost of the sources of capital. Represents the required return or opportunity costs for the firm as a whole. It is the appropriate discount rate for cash flows of projects having similar risk profile as that of the firm. Has weights that are derived from target capital structure and market values of each source of capital. Is also called the marginal cost of capital (MCC)     A firm has the following capital structure: 20% debt, 10% preferred stock, and 70% equity. The before-tax cost of debt is 6%, cost of preferred stock is 8%, and… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 62: Beta of a Project

Project’s beta is a measure of systematic or market risk present in a particular project. It is used to adjust for differences between project’s risk and firm’s average risk. Project’s beta is estimated using ‘Pure play method’. This method has three steps: Step 1: Shortlist comparable publicly traded companies. Step 2: Derive unlevered beta or comparable asset beta for the project using comparable company’s D/E and tax rate:     Step3: Get the equity levered beta for the project using project specific D/E and tax rate:     Drawbacks of “Pure Play” method: Public companies’ betas are dependent on time… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 63: Calculating Degree of Operating Leverage, Financial Leverage, and Total Leverage

Degree of operating leverage (DOL) measures operating risk. It is the ratio of the percentage change in operating income to the percentage change in quantity sold.     where: Q: Quantity sold, P: Unit price, V: Variable cost per unit, F: Fixed operating costs S: Dollar amount of sales, TVC: total variable costs, Degree of financial leverage (DFL) measures financial risk. It is the ratio of percentage change in net income to percentage change in operating income.     where: Q: Quantity sold, P: Unit price, V: Variable cost per unit, F: Fixed costs I: Fixed financial costs Degree of… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 64: Pooled Investment Products

Mutual fund is an investment pool of multiple investors, in which each investor has claim on income and value of the fund in proportion to the investment made by them. Net asset value = value of assets – liabilities. Open-end fund: A mutual fund that allows the issuance of new shares or redemption of existing shares, i.e. new investments are allowed. (No-load funds: Do not charge fees on redemption and fees for purchasing of shares; while load funds can charge either or both the fees). Purchases and sales are made with the fund. Closed-end fund: No new investment money is… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 65: Minimum-Variance and Efficient Frontiers

Investment opportunity set: Portfolios with varying weights of all the individual assets (both risky assets and risk free assets) available to the investors are plotted on a graph where return is on the y-axis and standard deviation (risk) is on the x-axis. For a given rate of return, there will be a portfolio with minimum variance (risk) available in the opportunity set. The curve connecting such portfolios with minimum variance is called the minimum-variance frontier. The portfolio having the least risk (variance) among all the portfolios of risky assets is called the global minimum-variance portfolio. As a risk averse investor… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 66: Applications of the CAPM and the SML

Expected return of an asset will be equal to the required return on the asset for a market in equilibrium. SML can be used to find overvalued and undervalued securities. Securities on the SML lineà fairly valued, Securities above the SML line à undervalued, Securities below the SML line à The market has an expected return of 16% and a risk-free rate of 5%. Compute the expected and required return on each stock and determine whether they are fairly valued, overvalued or undervalued. The following are the street forecasts for the stocks: Security Current price Expected year-end price Expected dividend… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 67: Principles of Portfolio Construction

1. Define IPS: Capture the investor requirements and constraints. 2. Determine the strategic asset allocation: a. Define the investable asset classes for the portfolio and gather historical data on their risk, return and correlation. b. Combine the IPS and the risk/return profile of various asset classes derived from above step, to determine a strategic asset allocation. Up to this step, investment decisions are entirely passive i.e. returns are primarily generated by investing in asset class indices. 3. Tactical asset allocation: a. This is the first step of active management. b. Determine whether there are any short-term opportunities that warrant a… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 68: Types of Securities

Securities can be broadly classified into: Fixed income: refers to debt securities where the borrower is obligated to pay interest and principal at pre-determined schedule. They may be collateralized, which means that investors have claim on certain physical assets. The different types are: • Bonds: Long-term debts. • Notes: Intermediate-term debts. • Bank borrowings: Long to short term involving revolving credit lines and other debt instruments. • Convertible: Debt can be exchanged for a specified number of equity shares. Equity: refers to ownership claims by investors in companies. The different types are: • Common shareholders: have a residual claim over… Read More

101 concepts level I

Concept 69: Types of Financial Intermediaries

Financial intermediaries facilitate transaction between buyers and sellers allowing them to exchange asset, capital and risk. The different types are: Brokers, Exchanges, and Alternative Trading Systems: Brokers: find counterparties for transactions (other entities willing to take the opposing side in a transaction) and do not indulge in trade with their clients directly. Block brokers: provide similar services as brokers, except that their clients have large trade orders that might potentially impact the security prices if the trade is executed without proper care. Investment banks: provide advice for corporate actions like mergers & acquisitions and help firms raise capital by issuing… Read More

101 concepts level I
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