Prior exposure to financial statements, time value of money and basic corporate finance is recommended. Spreadsheet skills will help with independent modeling practice.
About this course
Valuing a business requires more than entering numbers into a model. This free MBA classroom course with Aswath Damodaran examines the assumptions, stories and practical complications behind valuation. The extended lecture format develops the subject from intrinsic value through pricing, private companies, real options, acquisitions and value enhancement.
Course at a glance
| Provider / Instructor | Aswath Damodaran |
|---|---|
| Platform | YouTube · Aswath Damodaran |
| Access | Free Video |
| Level | Intermediate · WikiFree audience assessment |
| Language | English |
| Available videos | 29 |
| Video duration | 35h 12m · allow extra time for independent practice |
| Format | Self-paced viewing of the source course |
| Certificate | No certificate included with free YouTube viewing |
What you’ll learn
- Connect business assumptions with the inputs of a discounted cash flow valuation.
- Explain why value estimates and market pricing comparisons can differ.
- Recognize challenges in valuing young, private or distressed businesses.
- Discuss the roles of real options, acquisitions and value enhancement.
Skills you’ll gain
- Business valuation
- Financial modeling judgment
- Pricing comparisons
- Assumption analysis
Course Overview
The course first builds the inputs needed for discounted cash flow valuation: risk, discount rates, cash flows, growth and terminal value. It then explores how business narratives connect to those inputs and how unusual company situations challenge standard models. Later sessions distinguish pricing from valuation and examine asset-based methods, private businesses, real options and acquisitions. The included review videos remain in their original course positions.
How the course develops
- Building intrinsic value: follow the progression from risk-free rates and premiums to cash flows, growth and terminal assumptions.
- Reviewing the business story: examine how narratives, company characteristics and valuation complications influence the model.
- Extending the toolkit: compare pricing, private company analysis, real options and acquisition valuation.
The classroom retains every entry from the selected source playlist, including introductory or review videos when present. Follow the lesson sequence, or use the lesson search to return to a specific explanation. The source lesson titles are preserved so that you can match your place with the instructor’s materials.
Who is this for?
Finance students, aspiring valuation analysts and business professionals looking for a detailed classroom treatment. The MBA label identifies the teaching track and does not confer an MBA credential.
Before you start
Prior exposure to financial statements, time value of money and basic corporate finance is recommended. Spreadsheet skills will help with independent modeling practice.
Put the lessons into practice
Build a simple valuation outline for one company before constructing a detailed model. Explain its business story, identify the cash flows to value, choose a consistent discount-rate approach and state a terminal assumption. Then compare your reasoning with a pricing multiple and explain why the two approaches may lead to different conclusions.
This optional activity is provided by WikiFree for independent study. It is not a graded assignment from the instructor. Keep your working notes and separate evidence from assumptions so that you can review your reasoning as you progress.
Certificate / Assessment
The public YouTube videos are free to watch. Viewing them through WikiFree does not include a certificate, academic credit, an NYU degree, instructor feedback or admission to a university program. Separate enrolled or certificate programs can have different requirements and fees.
Mark complete records your study progress; it does not assess your work or award a qualification. Examples and figures belong to the source recordings. Use the lessons to learn the analytical methods and verify current inputs before applying them to a real decision.
Related courses for your next step
- Compare another approachBusiness Valuation: Free Online Course
Focus: Valuation fundamentals · Discounted cash flow concepts
Intermediate - Explore a higher-level optionExecutive Valuation: Free Course
Focus: Intrinsic valuation · Model review
Professional - Compare another approachFree Simplilearn Course: Financial Modeling and Corporate Valuation
Focus: Project Finance · Valuation
Intermediate
Compare course focus, level and study time
| Course | Level | Focus | Study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| This course — Business Valuation MBA: Free Course | Intermediate | Business valuation · Financial modeling judgment · Pricing comparisons | 35h 12m of video; practice time is additional |
| Business Valuation: Free Online Course | Intermediate | Valuation fundamentals · Discounted cash flow concepts · Multiple interpretation | 6h 3m of video; practice time is additional |
| Executive Valuation: Free Course | Professional | Intrinsic valuation · Model review · Valuation assumptions | 11h 58m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free Simplilearn Course: Financial Modeling and Corporate Valuation | Intermediate | Project Finance · Valuation · Capital Structure | 1h 5m of video; practice time is additional |
Frequently asked questions
Is this course free to watch?
Yes. The videos in this listing are public lessons from the Aswath Damodaran YouTube channel. Optional books, software and separately enrolled programs may have their own costs.
How long does the course take?
The 29 available videos total approximately 35h 12m. Allow additional time for pausing, notes, calculations and independent practice.
What background do I need?
Prior exposure to financial statements, time value of money and basic corporate finance is recommended. Spreadsheet skills will help with independent modeling practice.
Does the course include an NYU certificate?
No. Free YouTube viewing and WikiFree progress tracking do not award an NYU certificate, degree or academic credit.
Can I study on a phone?
Yes. The classroom includes a responsive video player and searchable lesson list. A larger screen is useful for detailed spreadsheets and calculations.
What happens if a lesson is unavailable?
Its place should remain in the course with an availability notice. If the source no longer provides a title, the missing item is identified clearly instead of inventing one. You can continue with the available lessons.
Provider: Aswath Damodaran. Videos play from the Aswath Damodaran channel on YouTube.
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