Effective teaching and use of the constant growth dividend discount model

Authors

  • Thomas H. Payne Department of Finance, The University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238, USA
  • J. Howard Finch Department of Finance, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1057-0810(00)00046-9

Keywords:

Valuation models, Stock valuation, Asset pricing, Dividend discount models

Abstract

The appropriate application of the constant growth dividend discount model (DDM) requires an understanding of the fundamental nature of the model and its parameters. It is important that students not only be able to mechanically “plug and chug” the formula, but that they also understand the model’s assumptions, inputs, sensitivity to error and practical limitations. This paper demonstrates that the valuation measure derived from using the DDM is very sensitive to the relationship between the required return on investment (K ) and the assumed growth rate (g) in

s

earnings and dividends. Examples show that the valuation error increases at an increasing rate

when the values of K and g converge in the formula. Classroom experience has indicated that students believe and strive to compute a single “correct” valuation of the share price. They should realize that the goal of valuation analysis is to estimate a reasonable range for the intrinsic value of a share price, rather than a single point estimate as often implied by end-of-chapter and exam-type problems using the DDM. © 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

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Published

1999-12-30

How to Cite

Payne, T. H., & Finch, J. H. (1999). Effective teaching and use of the constant growth dividend discount model. Financial Services Review, 8(4), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1057-0810(00)00046-9

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 4 (1999): Financial Services Review

Section

New Original Submission

License

Copyright (c) 1999 JAI Press Inc.

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