When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 5 modules in this course
In this course, you’ll learn the basic fundamentals of corporate finance. Based on the pre-term qualifying courses for Wharton MBA students, Professor Jessica Wachter has designed this course for learners who need a refresher in financial concepts, or for those who are learning about corporate finance for the first time. You’ll identify foundational concepts in corporate finance, such as NPV, Compound and Simple Interest, and Annuities versus Perpetuities. You’ll also learn how to apply the NPV framework to calculating fixed-income valuation and Equity, using hypothetical examples of corporate projects. By the end of this course, you’ll have honed your skills in calculating risk and returns to optimize investments, and be able to assess the right set of financial information to achieve better returns for your firm.
This module was designed to give you foundational knowledge of corporate finance and the Net Present Value (NPV). You’ll identify the definition of both Present Value and NPV, why it works, and how to calculate the NPV. You’ll learn key concepts such as Separation Theorem, whether corporations should follow the same rules of NPV as individuals, and what are reasonable assumptions to make when calculating NPV. You’ll compare Compound versus Simple Interest, define important concepts such as Annuities and Perpetuities, and analyze Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and Effective Annual Interest Rate (EAR). By the end of this module, you’ll gain a better understanding of the fundamental concepts in corporate finance as well as broader knowledge regarding the factors that go into a firm’s most critical decision-making.
What's included
8 videos6 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 64 minutes
Course Introduction (1:24)•1 minute
Present Value Concepts (7:39)•8 minutes
NPV Rule (10:39)•11 minutes
Separation Theorem (2:06)•2 minutes
Simple vs. Compound Interest (7:56)•8 minutes
Annuities and Perpetuities (12:40)•13 minutes
Growing Delayed Annuities and Perpetuities (7:45)•8 minutes
Compounding Within the Year and the Effective Annual Interest Rate (13:59)•14 minutes
6 readings•Total 60 minutes
Summary of NPV Rule•10 minutes
Topic 1 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Topic 1 Lecture Notes•10 minutes
Summary of Computing Effective Annual Rates•10 minutes
Topic 2 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Topic 2 Lecture Notes•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice Quiz #1•30 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•30 minutes
Module 2 - Fixed Income Valuation
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll examine fixed income valuation and delve deeper into the yield curve. Using the basic definition of bonds, you’ll be able to identify zero coupon bonds and calculate the return on those bonds. You’ll also discuss the differences between Yield to Maturity and Holding Period Returns, evaluate your investments, and be able to answer the question: “What does return on investment mean?” Through analyzing the Yield Curve, you’ll assess the opportunity cost of receiving money at various events in the future and accurately value investments. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to describe what a bond and zero coupon bond is, calculate the return on those bonds, and calculate a Yield Curve to better assess the value of your investments.
What's included
6 videos4 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 65 minutes
Introduction to Fixed Income Valuation (4:53)•5 minutes
Valuation of Pure Discount Bonds (6:06)•6 minutes
Yield to Maturity vs. Holding Period Return (13:11)•13 minutes
Prices and Returns on Coupon Bonds (17:17)•17 minutes
Semi-Annual Bonds (6:27)•6 minutes
The Yield Curve (16:50)•17 minutes
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Holding Period Return and Yield to Maturity for Zero-Coupon Bonds•10 minutes
Calculating the Holding Period Return on a Coupon Bond•10 minutes
Topic 3 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Topic 3 Lecture Notes•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice Quiz #2•30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
Module 3 - Equity Valuation
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll examine how to determine the value of stocks using present value methods. You’ll define what Equity is and develop an understanding of the important difference between fixed-income securities, such as bonds, and equity cash flows. You’ll discover the standard approach in valuing equity through its cash flow and how the principle of using multiples (such as price-earnings ratio) to value equity all comes from valuing equity as a stream of cash flows. By the end of this module, you’ll gain a better understanding of the theoretical basis behind applications of equity valuation and create models that determine dividend growth.
Summary of NPVGO and the Constant Growth Model•10 minutes
Topic 4 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Topic 4 Lecture Notes•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice Quiz #3•30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
Module 4 - NPV vs. Internal Rate of Return
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module was designed to show you the difference between NPV and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). You’ll first explore both Internal Rate of Return and how it compares to the NPV, then debunk some of the common assumptions about IRR that may seem unrealistic when examined closely. Using hypothetical examples of projects, you’ll compare the values of NPV and IRR and what to do when they agree or disagree with each other. By the end of this module, you’ll gain a better understanding of the difference between NPV and IRR, plus be able to determine when to make the critical call on which value to accept or reject when making important decisions within your firm.
What's included
4 videos2 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 35 minutes
Definition of Internal Rate of Return (IRR) (11:18)•11 minutes
Comparing NPV and IRR: Accept or Reject Decision (9:34)•10 minutes
Comparing NPV and IRR: Exclusive Projects (13:15)•13 minutes
Course Conclusion (0:36)•1 minute
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Topic 5 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Topic 5 Lecture Notes•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice Quiz #4•30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
(Optional) Additional Course Topics and Resources
Module 5•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module contains additional course topics related to the fundamentals of finance
What's included
9 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
9 readings•Total 90 minutes
Capital Budgeting in Practice•10 minutes
Expected Returns and Risk•10 minutes
Portfolio Analysis•10 minutes
Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)•10 minutes
Market Efficiency•10 minutes
Capital Structure•10 minutes
Valuation and Capital Budgeting with Leverage•10 minutes
Option Definitions and Strategies•10 minutes
Option Valuation•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Practice Quiz #5•30 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Instructor
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.0
1,132 reviews
5 stars
51.49%
4 stars
20.19%
3 stars
11.55%
2 stars
6.52%
1 star
10.22%
Showing 3 of 1132
S
SN
5·
Reviewed on Mar 31, 2024
It would be very helpful if the solutions were provided to missed quiz questions - there were a few questions I tried a couple times and could never figure out.
N
NK
4·
Reviewed on Jan 23, 2021
Helpful course with clear lectures by Dr. Wachter. The quizzes were a bit frustrating in their specific formatting requirements.
P
PS
5·
Reviewed on Dec 12, 2021
Some exercises could use a few hints, aside from that looks very good. The notes are good even for someone who is very rusty in algebra.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.