What does the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method aim to estimate?

The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method aims to estimate the present value of an investment's future cash flows. This financial valuation approach is based on the principle that money available today is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity. By discounting future cash flows back to their present value using an appropriate discount rate, the DCF method provides a way to assess the intrinsic value of an investment, taking into account risks and the time value of money.

The essence of this method lies in accurately forecasting future cash flows expected from the investment, such as revenues or savings, and then determining their value today. This is particularly useful for investors and financial analysts when evaluating potential investment opportunities or determining the fair market value of a business.

In contrast, estimating total liabilities refers to a company’s obligations, the market value of assets is concerned with what the company’s assets could be sold for, and overall profit looks at the income statement to determine profitability—not the focus of the DCF method. Therefore, the DCF method is specifically designed for valuing future cash flows rather than other financial metrics or aspects of a company's financial standing.