The value of California-based electric automaker, Tesla Motors’ earning potential and share price are analyzed after a triple-fold increase from earlier this year.  Roben Farzad of Bloomberg Businessweek takes a closer look at attempts by Goldman Sachs to dampen optimism surrounding Tesla’s increasing profit margins.  Do the numbers really show Tesla has power to remain consistent with this kind of growth? ...

In a fast and concise analysis, Bill Conerly of Forbes.com examines whether the rise in interest rates, particularly with commercial mortgages, automatically translates into a drop in commercial property value.  Conerly explains that your decision-making all depends on whether you take an internal or external view of the process.   How can this logic be wrong? Why doesn’t the table show clear real esta ...

A frequently missed opportunity for appraisers This article provides an overview of some of the complex rules relating to the built-in gains tax. It is intended only to acquaint business valuators with the structure of the tax and some of the key considerations which the business valuator must address. ...

Will the valuation report prepared by the non-accredited CPA be admitted? The author was recently involved in an Oklahoma domestic relations case where the opposing expert contended he did not have to abide by AICPA valuation standards, reporting or otherwise, since he was not a member of the organization. This article summarizes how this issue was handled by the Oklahoma judge. ...

Senators, Bob Corker (R-TN) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced a bill on June 25th that would eliminate government-sponsored Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  Over a five-year phase out, the institutions would be replaced by a new government reinsurer, a Federal Mortgage Insurance Corp (FMIC). Originally reported by National Mortgage News, the structure of the FMIC would be similar to the Federal Deposit Insuranc ...

REIT stocks fell sharply in the second quarter, ranging between 11 and 15 percent.  Originally reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Dow Jones Equity All REIT index posted a 2 percent negative return in the second quarter.  The index hasn’t reported a performance that weak since the third quarter of 2011.  Analysts are saying REITs took a dive because investors are nervous about rising interest rates sta ...

Suggested benchmark analysis to assess the reasonableness of the cost of equity In the February/March 2013 issue of the Financial Valuation & Litigation Expert (FVLE), Issue 41, Jim Hitchner authored “How to ‘Rig’ a Valuation: The Discount Rate.” This is the first of a two-part FVLE series. The article provides suggested guidance to unmask the intentional “rig.” ...

“Bank of America spokesman Terry Francisco told Bloomberg that the lender’s program prevents paperwork errors from delaying loan applications and that the overseas completeness checks don’t replace in-depth reviews done by licensed U.S. staff.” According to the Appraisal Institute and Bloomberg, Bank of America (BofA) has opened an office in Bangalore, India to deal specifically with reviewing valuation rep ...

How to apply the landmark cases Delaware MRI (2007) and Bernier (2012) Eric J. Barr, CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA, CFE, analyzes two landmark court decisions—Delaware MRI and Bernier—and offers more clarity on the proper way to value an ownership interest in a pass-through entity under the fair market standard of value.  ...

Important factors to consider in making tax adjustments to pass-through income Damodaran recently wrote about the potential devaluation of dividend-paying stocks if the preferred dividend tax rate were to climb back up to the ordinary rate.  This could inspire valuation experts to make a tax adjustment reducing untaxed Pass-Through Entity (PTE) income to equate it with corporately taxed income that qualifie ...

Should life insurance be considered a repurchase funding asset or a corporate non-operating asset and in what situations? ...

Exits of private equity firms from investments fell 67 percent by volume and 81 percent by dollar value. ...

Valuation professionals must continually keep abreast of the latest news and developments.  Whether it’s the latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruling, a new, wide-ranging court decision, or newly issued standard, trying to stay on top of it all—while managing a practice—can pose a significant challenge.  But as Nancy Gault recently learned at NACVA’s Annual Consultants’ Conference, Around the Valuation ...

Owners Looking to Protect Home Views Buy "Air Rights" to Stop Further Development.  See the Video to Find What One Homeowner Paid $600,000 to Preserve. The latest trend in Seattle's real estate market has homeowners looking up for some quick cash, reports Heather Graf at King 5 News (KVUE, an ABC affiliate)  in Seattle.  Depending on where you live, the air above your roof could be worth a lot of money.  He ...

A Majority ≠ Control or Liquidity Examining actual transactions in the private capital markets and court outcomes figure into whether holding a large block of stock equates with it control or even a premium.  The internal and external factors, legal provisions, and property performance drive this result.  ...

One Medical Practice Could—Depending on How Rules of Thumb are Applied—be Valued at Several Radically Different Prices. Find Out Why! Paul Hyde, in a recent Around the Valuation World™ in 90 Minutes webinar, explained why rules of thumb are dangerous to rely on for valuation. The focus of his argument relied on six simple graphics that illustrated how the value of one hypothetical medical practice could—dep ...

More Detail on Obligations Included in Minimum Lease Payments Required Under ASC 840  Grant Thornton's On the Horizon web publication  explains that leasing agreements vary in their specific accounting requirements when it comes to assessing — and retiring the value of  — leases.    Here's more:  ...

Requiring Valuation Analysts to Have Specialized Trainingk Credentials, and to Adhere to Professional Standards Will Protect ESOP Participants and Beneficiaries   CPA Practice Advisor reports that the President and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, has publicly announced his organization's support for a new bill in the House of Representatives.  H.R. 2041 would mod ...

A Disparity in Valuation Prices Between Companies Large and Small in Similar Industries Adds to Investment Challenges   Jwalit Vyas at The Economic Times (India) illustrates how a wide disparity in valuation between companies large and small offers an additional challenge for business owners, investors, and financial consultants.  Here's more:  ...

An Overly High Valuation Can Scare Away Investors or Spark a Down Round that Dilutes an Earlier Angel Investment      Mark Boslet at PE Hub explains that with IPOs on track to have their biggest year since 2010 and some major technology disruptions sparking infectious excitement, it's important to keep in mind key fundamentals including not accepting too high a valuation for your business or investment prop ...