Finance Formulas

The Library

Every formula, from first principles.

Not a cheat sheet. Each entry explains why the formula must be true — so under pressure you can rebuild it instead of recalling it.

Time Value of Money

Discounting, compounding, annuities and the machinery behind every valuation.

Quantitative Methods

Returns, dispersion, probability and the statistics that describe risk.

Holding Period Return (HPR)

foundation
HPR=P1P0+DP0HPR = \frac{P_1 - P_0 + D}{P_0}

Arithmetic Mean Return

foundation
Rˉ=1ni=1nRi\bar{R} = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} R_i

Geometric Mean Return

core
RG=[i=1n(1+Ri)]1/n1R_G = \left[\prod_{i=1}^{n}(1+R_i)\right]^{1/n} - 1

Weighted Mean (Portfolio Return)

foundation
Rˉw=i=1nwiRi,wi=1\bar{R}_w = \sum_{i=1}^{n} w_i R_i, \qquad \sum w_i = 1

Sample Standard Deviation

core
s=i=1n(RiRˉ)2n1s = \sqrt{\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n}(R_i - \bar{R})^2}{n-1}}

Coefficient of Variation (CV)

core
CV=sXˉCV = \frac{s}{\bar{X}}

Sharpe Ratio

core
S=RpRfσpS = \frac{R_p - R_f}{\sigma_p}

Roy's Safety-First Ratio

advanced
SF=RpRLσpSF = \frac{R_p - R_L}{\sigma_p}

Correlation from Covariance

advanced
ρAB=CovABσAσB\rho_{AB} = \frac{Cov_{AB}}{\sigma_A \sigma_B}

Expected Value

foundation
E(X)=i=1npiXiE(X) = \sum_{i=1}^{n} p_i X_i

Total Probability Rule

core
P(B)=P(BA)P(A)+P(BAc)P(Ac)P(B) = P(B\mid A)\,P(A) + P(B\mid A^{c})\,P(A^{c})

Bayes' Formula

advanced
P(AB)=P(BA)P(A)P(B)P(A\mid B) = \frac{P(B \mid A)\,P(A)}{P(B)}

Combinations (nCr)

foundation
nCr=(nr)=n!(nr)!r!{}_{n}C_{r} = \binom{n}{r} = \frac{n!}{(n-r)!\,r!}

Permutations (nPr)

foundation
nPr=n!(nr)!{}_{n}P_{r} = \frac{n!}{(n-r)!}

Economics

Elasticity, money and inflation — the macro identities behind the markets.

Financial Statement Analysis

The ratio machinery that turns raw statements into judgments about a business.

Current & Quick Ratios

foundation
Current=CACLQuick=CAInventoryCL\text{Current} = \frac{CA}{CL} \qquad \text{Quick} = \frac{CA - \text{Inventory}}{CL}

Net Profit Margin

foundation
Net margin=Net incomeRevenue\text{Net margin} = \frac{\text{Net income}}{\text{Revenue}}

Return on Equity

core
ROE=Net incomeAverage shareholders’ equityROE = \frac{\text{Net income}}{\text{Average shareholders' equity}}

DuPont Decomposition (3-Way)

advanced
ROE=NIRevmargin×RevAssetsturnover×AssetsEquityleverageROE = \underbrace{\frac{NI}{Rev}}_{\text{margin}} \times \underbrace{\frac{Rev}{Assets}}_{\text{turnover}} \times \underbrace{\frac{Assets}{Equity}}_{\text{leverage}}

DuPont Decomposition (5-Way)

advanced
ROE=NIEBTtax burden×EBTEBITinterest burden×EBITRevoperating margin×RevAssetsturnover×AssetsEquityleverageROE = \underbrace{\frac{NI}{EBT}}_{\text{tax burden}} \times \underbrace{\frac{EBT}{EBIT}}_{\text{interest burden}} \times \underbrace{\frac{EBIT}{Rev}}_{\text{operating margin}} \times \underbrace{\frac{Rev}{Assets}}_{\text{turnover}} \times \underbrace{\frac{Assets}{Equity}}_{\text{leverage}}

Straight-Line vs. Double-Declining-Balance Depreciation

core
SL=CostSalvageLifeDDBt=Book valuet1×2LifeSL = \frac{\text{Cost} - \text{Salvage}}{\text{Life}} \qquad DDB_t = \text{Book value}_{t-1} \times \frac{2}{\text{Life}}

Debt-to-Equity, Debt-to-Capital & Interest Coverage

core
D/E=Total debtTotal equityD/C=Total debtTotal debt+Total equityInterest coverage=EBITInterest expenseD/E = \frac{\text{Total debt}}{\text{Total equity}} \qquad D/C = \frac{\text{Total debt}}{\text{Total debt} + \text{Total equity}} \qquad \text{Interest coverage} = \frac{EBIT}{\text{Interest expense}}

Cash Conversion Cycle

core
CCC=DOH+DSODPOCCC = DOH + DSO - DPO

Sustainable Growth Rate

core
g=b×ROE,b=1payout ratiog = b \times ROE, \qquad b = 1 - \text{payout ratio}

Basic Earnings per Share

core
EPS=NIDprefweighted-average common sharesEPS = \frac{NI - D_{pref}}{\text{weighted-average common shares}}

Receivables Turnover & Days Sales Outstanding

core
Receivables turnover=RevenueAverage receivablesDSO=365Receivables turnover\text{Receivables turnover} = \frac{\text{Revenue}}{\text{Average receivables}} \qquad DSO = \frac{365}{\text{Receivables turnover}}

Inventory Turnover & Days of Inventory on Hand

core
Inventory turnover=COGSAverage inventoryDOH=365Inventory turnover\text{Inventory turnover} = \frac{COGS}{\text{Average inventory}} \qquad DOH = \frac{365}{\text{Inventory turnover}}

Payables Turnover & Days Payables Outstanding

core
Payables turnover=PurchasesAverage payablesDPO=365Payables turnover\text{Payables turnover} = \frac{\text{Purchases}}{\text{Average payables}} \qquad DPO = \frac{365}{\text{Payables turnover}}

Total Asset Turnover

core
Total asset turnover=RevenueAverage total assets\text{Total asset turnover} = \frac{\text{Revenue}}{\text{Average total assets}}

Return on Assets

core
ROA=Net incomeAverage total assetsROA = \frac{\text{Net income}}{\text{Average total assets}}

Diluted Earnings per Share (Treasury Stock Method)

advanced
Incremental shares=N(1ExP)Diluted EPS=NIDprefS+Incremental shares\text{Incremental shares} = N\left(1 - \frac{Ex}{P}\right) \qquad \text{Diluted EPS} = \frac{NI - D_{pref}}{S + \text{Incremental shares}}

Free Cash Flow to the Firm

advanced
FCFF=NI+NCC+Int(1t)FCInvWCInvFCFF = NI + NCC + Int(1-t) - FCInv - WCInv

Free Cash Flow to Equity

advanced
FCFE=FCFFInt(1t)+Net borrowingFCFE = FCFF - Int(1-t) + \text{Net borrowing}

Corporate Issuers

What capital costs a company — the WACC cluster and leverage measures.

Equity Investments

Valuing stocks: justified multiples, enterprise value and margin mechanics.

Fixed Income

Bond pricing, yields and the duration machinery that measures rate risk.

Derivatives

Forwards, options and the no-arbitrage logic that prices every contract.

Alternative Investments

Real estate cap rates and the fee arithmetic of hedge funds and private funds.

Portfolio Management

Diversification, beta and the CAPM — how risk is priced and performance judged.