Investment Analysis and Valuation Techniques
Build practical valuation skills in this three-week, 1-hour-per-week course using Excel, DCF, and market-based methods
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
Investment Analysis and Valuation Techniques
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Learn to value companies with confidence
Explore how investors decide what a company is really worth. Whether you’re evaluating investment opportunities, supporting M&A decisions, or analysing equity, understanding valuation is essential for making informed financial judgements.
This three-week course teaches practical valuation techniques used by financial professionals. You’ll learn to build Discounted Cash Flow models in Excel, apply relative valuation methods, and interpret results in real business contexts. With just one hour per week, you’ll develop skills applicable to investment banking, equity research, corporate finance, and consulting roles.
Understand core valuation principles
Explore the foundations of time value of money, cash flow discounting, and the logic behind intrinsic valuation. You’ll learn how valuation fits into real investment and corporate decision-making.
Building this conceptual base helps you understand why different valuation approaches exist and when each is most appropriate.
Build DCF and relative valuation models
Practice building Discounted Cash Flow models in Excel, using assumptions to estimate present value and project outcomes. You’ll learn relative valuation methods, including trading comparables, transaction multiples, and precedent transaction analysis.
By comparing intrinsic and market-based approaches, you’ll understand when each method is most useful and what its limitations are.
Interpret results in real business contexts
Learn to interpret valuation outputs in the context of risk, market expectations, and investment strategy. You’ll turn technical results into informed conclusions that support decision-making.
Through worked examples and case-based tasks, you’ll assess companies and opportunities with greater confidence in professional settings.
Syllabus
Week 1
Time Value of Money and Discounting Fundamentals
Lesson 1: Intro Video to Course
A brief introduction to the course, outlining key topics, learning outcomes, and what learners can expect, along with a call to action to get started.
Lesson 2: Time Value of Money Concepts
Covers the core idea that money has different value over time and introduces the foundational formulas that govern investment decision-making.
Lesson 3: TVM Applications in Excel
Focuses on modelling time value of money examples in Excel, using financial functions and templates.
Lesson 4: Applying Discounting in Investment Analysis
Explores how discounting is used in financial decision-making, including capital budgeting, risk analysis, and valuation.
Week 2
Valuation Models: DCF and Multiples
Lesson 5: Building a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Model
Explains the components of a DCF model, including free cash flow forecasts, terminal value estimation, and discounting.
Lesson 6: Relative Valuation Using Multiples
Covers how to use market-based multiples such as EV/EBITDA, EV/Revenue, and P/E to estimate firm value and triangulate results.
Lesson 7: Choosing the Right Valuation Method
Provides guidance on selecting appropriate valuation methods depending on business characteristics, data availability, and purpose of the analysis.
Week 3
Financial Modeling with AI
Lesson 8: Introduction to AI in Financial Modeling
Introduces the fundamentals of AI-driven modeling and its role in modern finance.
Lesson 9: Practical AI Tools for Model Building
Teaches how to use AI to automate processes, generate forecasts, and enhance decision-making.
Lesson 10: AI Governance, Validation, and Best Practices
Covers how to ensure accuracy, mitigate risks, and integrate AI seamlessly into financial modeling processes.
Lesson 11: Course Conclusion
This conclusion lesson reviews key concepts and includes a wrap-up video and final quiz to reinforce learning and assess understanding.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Apply time value of money and discounted cash flow techniques to value projects and companies
- Use relative valuation methods such as market multiples and comparables analysis
- Interpret valuation results in the context of investment decisions and market expectations
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for aspiring financial analysts, investment banking and equity research professionals, corporate finance executives, consultants, and learners in private equity, venture capital, M&A, or strategic planning roles.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Starweaver
Starweaver is a next generation platform that engages your workforce as no other. Combining business and technical skills, Starweaver provides real-time skill building that is in line with your business objectives and strategies, and in your associates day to day tasks and jobs.
| Best ValueBest Value - learn more, save more! | |||
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Start learning today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $54/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 3 weeks |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 3 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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