A two-stage DCF model divides the forecast period into two phases: a high-growth stage (typically 5–10 years) with explicitly projected cash flows, followed by a stable-growth stage captured in the terminal value. It is the standard approach for stock valuation of growth companies.
A technology company with 15% FCF growth in years 1–5 and 3% perpetual growth thereafter would use a two-stage DCF. The first stage captures the high-growth period explicitly; the terminal value captures the mature business. This is the most common structure in professional stock valuation.
Real businesses don't grow at a constant rate forever. The two-stage structure acknowledges that most high-growth companies will eventually mature. It makes stock valuation more realistic by separating the high-growth phase (which requires specific assumptions) from the long-run stable state.
MiniValuator implements a two-stage DCF model by default. Users specify a high-growth rate and duration for stage one, then a terminal growth rate for stage two, with sensitivity analysis across both dimensions of stock valuation.
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