MultiplesAswath Damodaran / Liu, Nissim & Thomas (2002)
Relative Multiples (P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA, P/S) Calculator
Computes market-implied fair equity value by applying peer group valuation multiples (P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA, P/S) to company financial metrics.
Calculator Inputs
Theoretical Foundation & Equation
Relative valuation determines the value of an asset by looking at how the market prices similar assets. Multiples are standardized financial ratios that allow quick peer-group benchmarking.
Core Intrinsic Formula
Fair Value = Target Multiple × Financial Metric (EPS, BVPS, SPS, or (EV/EBITDA × EBITDA - Net Debt) / Shares)
Variable Definitions & Disclosure Guidance
| Symbol | Variable Name | Description | Filing Source Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E | Price-to-Earnings | Stock price divided by earnings per share | Peer group median P/E multiple |
| P/B | Price-to-Book | Stock price divided by book value per share | Peer group median P/B multiple |
| EV/EBITDA | Enterprise Value to EBITDA | Capital-structure neutral operating cash multiple | Peer group median EV/EBITDA |
| P/S | Price-to-Sales | Stock price divided by revenue per share | Peer group median P/S multiple |
Financial Intuition: Provides immediate market feedback on whether a company is priced at a discount or premium relative to industry peers.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Standard relative benchmarking against industry peers.
Sample Financial Filing Inputs
Target EPS
$4.00
TTM Normalized EPS
Peer Median P/E
15.0x
Industry Median
Target EBITDA / Net Debt
$20.0M / $40.0M
Financial Statements
Calculation Steps
Step 1: P/E Based Fair Value$60.00
$4.00 × 15.0x = $60.00
Step 2: EV/EBITDA Based Equity Value (10M Shares)$12.00 per share
($20.0M × 8.0x - $40.0M) / 10M shares = $120.0M / 10M = $12.00
Example Conclusion & Interpretation
P/E multiple implies $60.00 fair price with a ±15% range of $51.00 - $69.00.
Suitability Checklist & Limitations
Best Suited For
- •Companies operating in mature industries with abundant listed comparables
- •Rapid sanity check against market trading conditions
Not Suitable For
- •Unique monopoly businesses with zero direct peers
- •During widespread market bubbles or deep market dislocations
Frequently Asked Questions
Intrinsic models (DCF, S-RIM) price a stock based on its future cash flows and balance sheet equity, while relative models price a stock based on how the market prices other companies.
Primary Citations & Source Documentation
Aswath Damodaran / Liu, Nissim & Thomas (2002)
Equity Valuation Using Multiples (Journal of Accounting Research, 2002)
View Source / Filing ReferenceLegal Caveat
- Always use median peer multiples rather than simple averages to minimize distortion from outliers.