I cannot directly provide or link to a specific PDF file (such as a Chapter 17 PDF by Holthausen & Zmijewski) due to copyright restrictions. However, I can offer a of the core concepts typically covered in Chapter 17 of the well-known corporate valuation text "Corporate Valuation: Theory, Evidence, and Practice" by Robert W. Holthausen and Mark E. Zmijewski .
This formulation forces the analyst to be explicit about the long-term profitability of new investments — a step many practitioners skip, leading to overvaluation. Holthausen and Zmijewski systematically warn against several errors:
Most standard editions of this book use Chapter 17 to focus on or "Estimating Terminal Value" (depending on the edition). The most common and pedagogically significant chapter is the one on Estimating Terminal Value — a critical component of any discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation.
[ TV_n = \fracFCF_n+1WACC - g = \fracNOPLAT_n+1 \times (1 - g / RONIC)WACC - g ]
[ TV_n = \textMultiple \times \textTerminal Year Metric (e.g., EBITDA) ]
Chapter 17 provides a formula linking TV to growth, WACC, and RONIC:
As Holthausen and Zmijewski emphasize, terminal value often represents . Small changes in TV assumptions can produce massive valuation errors, making this chapter one of the most critical in the valuation process. The Two Dominant Approaches to Terminal Value Chapter 17 systematically evaluates the two primary methods for estimating TV: 1. The Perpetuity Growth Method (Gordon Growth Model) This method assumes that after the explicit forecast period, the firm’s free cash flows grow at a constant, perpetual rate ( g ). The formula is straightforward:
A valuation that ignores the link between growth, ROIC, and WACC is little more than a spreadsheet illusion. By mastering the concepts in Chapter 17 — conservative growth rates, competitive fade, and cross-method consistency — analysts can avoid the most common and costly valuation errors. In the end, terminal value is where financial theory meets pragmatic judgment, and no chapter in the Holthausen & Zmijewski text makes that clearer. If you are looking for the original by Holthausen & Zmijewski, please check your institutional library access, Google Scholar, or platforms like SSRN or ResearchGate for author-uploaded preprints. Some universities provide access through databases like EBSCO or ProQuest . Always respect copyright laws.
Below is an informative article structured around the key lessons from (focused on Terminal Value). Beyond the Forecast Horizon: Mastering Terminal Value in Corporate Valuation The Core Challenge of Going-Concern Valuation Most corporate valuations using a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model face a fundamental practical problem: we cannot forecast cash flows forever. Even the most detailed financial models project only 5 to 10 years of explicit financial statements. Yet, a company’s value lies in its entire future — not just the next decade. This is where Chapter 17 of Holthausen & Zmijewski’s Corporate Valuation becomes essential. It provides the rigorous framework for estimating Terminal Value (TV) — the present value of all cash flows beyond the explicit forecast period.
In the long run, competition drives excess returns to zero. Therefore, the terminal period should assume that the firm’s converges to its Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) . If RONIC equals WACC, further growth adds no value — it is “value-neutral” growth. If RONIC persistently exceeds WACC, the firm enjoys a competitive advantage, and a higher terminal multiple is justified, but such advantages rarely last forever.
[ TV_n = \fracFCF_n+1(WACC - g) ]
