Professional Valuation Training for Financial Analysts
Financial valuation isn't something you memorize overnight. These are the methods real analysts use when they're building their skills—tested approaches that help concepts stick, not just float by.
Think of this as a roadmap. Not everyone moves through these stages at the same speed, and that's perfectly fine. What matters is that you understand where you're headed.
Start with the basics. Get comfortable with financial statements before jumping into complex models. I've seen too many students skip this part and regret it later. Spend time understanding how balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements connect. Once you grasp these relationships, everything else makes more sense.
This is where things get interesting. You'll start working with actual company data, building your first DCF models, and probably making mistakes—which is good. Each error teaches you something. Focus on one valuation method at a time until it clicks. Then move to the next. Don't rush through this phase.
By now you understand the mechanics, but valuation changes depending on the sector. Tech companies value differently than manufacturing firms. Real estate has its own quirks. You'll learn to adjust your approach based on what you're analyzing. This is when your skills start feeling professional rather than academic.
The final stretch focuses on speed and accuracy. You'll work through more complex scenarios, handle edge cases, and develop your own analytical style. Some people prefer conservative assumptions, others take calculated risks. Find what works for you. By the end, you should feel confident presenting your analysis to others.
These are the people who've spent years in the field. They've made the mistakes, learned from them, and now they're sharing what actually works.
Spent twelve years analyzing companies for investment firms before switching to teaching. Henrik has this way of breaking down complicated valuations into steps you can actually follow. He focuses on practical scenarios rather than theoretical perfection—which honestly, is what most students need.
Former equity research analyst who now helps people understand what the numbers really mean. Sienna's background in emerging markets gives her a different perspective—she knows that textbook methods don't always apply everywhere. Her sessions tend to be more discussion-based, which some students prefer.
Started in corporate finance, moved to consulting, and eventually found her way to education. Mira's strength is showing you how professionals think through valuation problems. She uses real case studies from her consulting days—anonymized, of course—but detailed enough that you learn how decisions actually get made in boardrooms.
Look, there are a thousand study methods out there. These are the ones that consistently work for financial analysis. Not because they're trendy, but because they match how this material needs to be learned.
Create a valuation model from scratch. Then deliberately mess up key assumptions and see what breaks. Understanding why a model fails teaches you more than getting it right the first time. This hands-on approach builds confidence faster than passive reading ever could.
Take three companies in the same industry and value them side by side. You'll notice patterns in how different business models affect valuation. This comparative approach highlights what really drives value in different contexts. It's tedious at first, but the insights stick.
If you can't explain a concept to a friend who knows nothing about finance, you don't understand it well enough yet. This forces you to simplify without losing accuracy. Plus, the questions people ask often reveal gaps in your own understanding that you didn't know existed.
Theory only takes you so far. Here are the kinds of situations you'll work through during the program—based on actual challenges analysts face.
Tech firms are tricky because traditional metrics don't always apply. You'll work with a case study of a software company that's growing fast but not yet profitable. How do you value future potential without just making up numbers? This exercise teaches you to balance optimism with realistic assumptions. It's one of the most requested scenarios from past students.
Not every company you value will be healthy. Sometimes you need to assess a business that's struggling. What's it worth if it can turn things around? What if it can't? This scenario builds your ability to think through multiple outcomes and assign probabilities to each. It's uncomfortable work, but incredibly valuable for developing judgment.