What is the main purpose of equity valuation?

• A. Estimate the value of a firm or its security
• B. Forecast earnings
• C. Determine market share
• D. Set dividend policy

Answer: (A)

Equity valuation is about estimating what a firm or its stock is worth today by projecting future cash flows and discounting them back to present value at a rate that reflects risk. This gives a fair value that investors compare with the current price to decide if the security is undervalued or overvalued, guiding buy or sell decisions. Earnings forecasts are inputs to the valuation, but the goal isn’t to forecast earnings alone. Market share concerns competitive position, not the investment’s value. Dividend policy deals with profit distribution, not the intrinsic worth of the security. So the main purpose is to estimate value to inform investment choices.