Browse Valuation and Analysis

Growth Rates, Averages, and Capital Budgeting Math

Compound growth, simple growth, harmonic mean, and multiple-IRR terms used in performance and project analysis.

Growth Rates, Averages, and Capital Budgeting Math covers compound growth, simple growth, harmonic mean, and multiple-IRR terms used in performance and project analysis.

Use these pages when a statistical assumption, model structure, or risk distribution changes the analytical result. It sits inside Valuation Modeling and Statistical Methods, so readers can move up when the broader valuation context matters.

Use the table below to choose the narrower valuation branch before relying on a model input, market multiple, forecast, risk premium, price signal, or recommendation.

What This Branch Covers

AreaUse it for
Compound Growth RateCompound growth rate measures the constant rate that links a starting value to an ending value over multiple periods.
Harmonic MeanThe harmonic mean is an average suited to ratios and rates, often used when valuation multiples or speeds must be averaged carefully.
Multiple IRRsMultiple IRRs occur when unconventional cash flows produce more than one internal rate of return, complicating project evaluation.
Simple Growth RateSimple growth rate measures percentage change from one value to another over a period without annualizing or compounding the result.

What to Check

  • Forecast source, valuation date, market data, accounting adjustments, and model version.
  • Cash-flow input, discount rate, multiple, growth assumption, terminal value, balance-sheet adjustment, and scenario range.
  • Comparable set, transaction set, sector, geography, size, leverage, margin profile, and accounting basis.
  • Effect on intrinsic value, relative value, price target, margin of safety, impairment view, deal price, or recommendation.
  • Sensitivity to growth, margins, reinvestment, discount rate, exit multiple, leverage, and market conditions.

Common Mistakes

  • Treating a valuation output as a precise fact instead of a range of estimates.
  • Comparing multiples without normalizing earnings, leverage, accounting policy, growth, and risk.
  • Ignoring valuation date, source quality, cyclicality, nonrecurring items, and sensitivity analysis.
  • Using valuation terminology as personalized investment, tax, legal, or appraisal advice.

Valuation content is educational and does not provide investment, tax, legal, accounting, appraisal, or valuation advice.

In this section

Choose a subsection first. Deeper term pages live inside each subsection, which keeps large topic hubs readable.

Compound Growth Rate

Compound growth rate measures the constant rate that links a starting value to an ending value over multiple periods.

Harmonic Mean

The harmonic mean is an average suited to ratios and rates, often used when valuation multiples or speeds must be averaged carefully.

Multiple IRRs

Multiple IRRs occur when unconventional cash flows produce more than one internal rate of return, complicating project evaluation.

Simple Growth Rate

Simple growth rate measures percentage change from one value to another over a period without annualizing or compounding the result.

Revised on Sunday, June 21, 2026