European Business Schools Librarian's Group

SSE Working Paper Series in Business Administration,
Stockholm School of Economics

No 2015:3: The Accuracy of Parsimonious Equity Valuation Models - Empirical tests of the Dividend Discount, Residual Income and Abnormal Earnings Growth model

Sebastian Anesten (), Niclas Möller () and Kenth Skogsvik ()
Additional contact information
Sebastian Anesten: Hennes & Mauritz AB
Niclas Möller: Investor AB
Kenth Skogsvik: Dept. of Accounting, Postal: Stockholm School of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: In many contexts there is a need for parsimonious valuation models, i.e. technically less complex models that are based on few and readily available input variables. Previous research indicates that the accuracy of such models can be weak, and that the choice of a model specification involves striking a balance between the need for valuation accuracy and modelling simplicity. In this paper we investigate the accuracy of four well-known valuation models - the dividend discount (PVED) model, the residual income valuation (RIV) model and two versions of the abnormal earnings growth (AEG) model – using financial data from a Scandinavian (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) capital market setting. Measuring the valuation accuracy in terms of both precision and spread, we find that the RIV model in general allows for the best parsimonious model specifications. Incorporating complexity adjustments (longer explicit forecast periods, bankruptcy risk adjustment of discount rates, and elimination of transitory income items) in our most parsimonious models, we find that the valuation accuracy of all models improve. RIV modelling still comes out as the best valuation approach, but the gap to PVED modelling decreases. Despite our complexity adjustments, the AEG models generate poor valuation results and basically cannot be used as valuation benchmarks for our sample of Scandinavian firms.

Keywords: Abnormal earnings growth (AEG) model; Accuracy score; Dividend discount (PVED) model; Equity valuation; Fundamental valuation; Parsimonious modelling; Residual income valuation (RIV) model

39 pages, December 4, 2015

Full text files 

hastma2015_003.pdf PDF-file Full text

Download statistics

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Helena Lundin ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:hhb:hastma:2015_003This page generated on 2024-10-24 04:36:01.