Analysis

Enterprise Value: Definition

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Simple Definition

A measure of a company's total value, including its stock price, debt, and cash. Think of it as the full takeover price.

Why It Matters

Enterprise Value (EV) gives a more complete picture than market cap alone. If a company has a $100B market cap but $50B in debt, the real cost to acquire it is $150B (minus any cash). EV is used in ratios like EV/EBITDA and EV/Revenue to compare companies with different debt levels on an apples-to-apples basis.

Key Points

  • Calculate it: Market Cap + Total Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents
  • EV/EBITDA below 10 is often considered "cheap"; above 20 is "expensive" (varies by industry)
  • Useful for comparing companies with different capital structures (heavy debt vs. debt-free)

Related Terms

Common Questions

A measure of a company's total value, including its stock price, debt, and cash. Think of it as the full takeover price. Enterprise Value (EV) gives a more complete picture than market cap alone. If a company has a $100B market cap but $50B in debt, the real cost to acquire it is $150B (minus any cash).

Enterprise Value (EV) gives a more complete picture than market cap alone. If a company has a $100B market cap but $50B in debt, the real cost to acquire it is $150B (minus any cash). EV is used in ratios like EV/EBITDA and EV/Revenue to compare companies with different debt levels on an apples-to-apples basis.

Calculate it: Market Cap + Total Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents

EV/EBITDA below 10 is often considered "cheap"; above 20 is "expensive" (varies by industry)

Useful for comparing companies with different capital structures (heavy debt vs. debt-free)