Comparable Company Analysis (CCA)
What Is a Comparable Company Analysis (CCA)
A comparable company analysis (CCA) is a process used to evaluate the value of a company using the metrics of other businesses of similar size in the same industry. Comparable company analysis operates under the assumption that similar companies will have similar valuation multiples, such as EV/EBITDA. Analysts compile a list of available statistics for the companies being reviewed and calculate the valuation multiples to compare them.
Understanding Comparable Company Analysis (CCA)
One of the first things every banker learns is the means by which to do a comp analysis or comparable company analysis. The process of creating a comparable company analysis is genuinely straightforward. The data the report provides is used to determine a ballpark estimate of value at the stock cost or the company's value.
Comparable Company Analysis
Comparable company analysis starts with establishing a peer group consisting of similar companies of similar size in the same industry or region. Investors are then able to compare a particular company to its competitors on a relative basis. This data can be used to determine a company's enterprise value (EV) and to calculate other ratios used to compare a company to those in its peer group.
Relative vs. Comparable Company Analysis
There are numerous ways to value a company. The most common approaches are based on cash flows and relative performance compared to peers. Models that are based on cash, such as the discounted cash flow (DCF) model, can help analysts calculate a intrinsic value based on future cash flows. This value is then compared to the real market value. Assuming the intrinsic value is higher than the market value, the stock is undervalued. Assuming the intrinsic value is lower than the market value, the stock is overvalued.
Notwithstanding intrinsic valuation, analysts like to affirm cash flow valuation with relative comparisons, and these relative comparisons allow the analyst to develop an industry benchmark or average.
The most common valuation measures used in comparable company analysis are enterprise value to sales (EV/S), price to earnings (P/E), price to book (P/B), and price to sales (P/S). Assuming the company's valuation ratio is higher than the peer average, the company is overvalued. Assuming the valuation ratio is lower than the peer average, the company is undervalued. Used together, intrinsic and relative valuation models provide a ballpark measure of valuation that can be used to help analysts gauge the true value of a company.
Valuation and Transaction Metrics Used in Comps
Comps can also be based on transaction multiples. Transactions are recent acquisitions in the same industry. Analysts compare multiples based on the purchase price of the company rather than the stock. On the off chance that all companies in a particular industry are selling for an average of 1.5 times market value or 10 times earnings, it gives the analyst a method for using the same number to back into the value of a peer company based on these benchmarks.
Highlights
- Comparable company analysis is the process of comparing companies based on similar metrics to determine their enterprise value.
- A company's valuation ratio determines whether it is overvalued or undervalued. In the event that the ratio is high, it is overvalued. In the event that it is low, the company is undervalued.
- The most common valuation measures used in comparable company analysis are enterprise value to sales (EV/S), price to earnings (P/E), price to book (P/B), and price to sales (P/S).
