Be the portfolio manager your clients deserve.
Good fundamental analysis isn’t enough these days.
We’ll strengthen yours, and more.
Good fundamental analysis isn’t enough these days.
We’ll strengthen yours, and more.
We’ll check your channel checks. We’ll challenge what you claim to know.
World-class managers aren’t defined by their returns, but by their risk.
Benchmarks aside, do you know what to improve about your portfolio?
Professionals tasked with managing money in fields such as:
Asset Management Portfolio Management Wealth Management Mutual Funds Pensions Family Offices… and anyone working in an institutional investing role.
Build an integrated, self-balancing 3-statement model, complete with a debt sweep and interest schedule to project run-rate profitability over the next 5 years.
Think of this like a road map you can use to figure out where a company is headed.
Explore the 4 main valuation methodologies, from fundamental to relative.
Put each one into practice with a dedicated valuation model, using real historical data.
This makes it a breeze to analyze dozens of companies in a short amount of time.
Even if you’re not a hedge fund, knowing how to think like one is pivotal to maintaining your edge.
What types of information are important? How does stock liquidity and the broader portfolio mix affect future investments? These questions matter across the board.
We cover Markowitz’ formula in detail, along with CAPM, the Capital Market Line, and the Security Market Line.
With Excel Solver, we can put this all together to derive the efficent frontier from a portfolio of stocks.
What do you do when your fundamental thesis disagrees with your technical analysis?
We’ve come up with a robust framework for how to layer both approaches to juice your returns.
Our approach is to teach you how to fish, rather than give you a fish.
We don't give a one-way lecture where you memorize every cell and formula.
We nudge you toward uncovering answers on your own by leading with the right questions.
The end result? Longer-term knowledge retention that will last an entire career.
I really felt that WST was world class and would recommend it to anyone starting a new career on Wall Street. In particular, the strength of the program is that it concentrates on how analytical work is actually conducted in real life rather than the academic approach of some other competitors.
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Our Self-Study platform lets you learn at your own pace via instructor-led videos.
For Buy-Side Professionals:
We highly recommend our focused Research / Hedge Funds Track. It includes several Packages and selected courses at a discounted price.
Explore TracksOr, if you'd prefer, pick and choose your own mix of courses below:
Note: Portfolio Optimization & Efficient Frontier Modeling and Fundamentals vs. Technicals are not available in the WST Self-Study format.
All prices are in USD and denote six (6) months of access. Terms apply.
Economics - if not dismal, the “science” can certainly be frustrating. Ask yourself, do weak employment figures portend a decline in corporate profits and falling equity prices, or does it signal potential intervention from the central bank and rising equity prices? Exasperating, right?
The application of economic data to real world investment decisions often requires a secondary and even tertiary analysis of its meaning. Said differently, using economic data in the real world is more a “sentiment game” than a mathematical formula. What is a sentiment game? Keynes would describe it as a newspaper beauty contest, but more technically it’s a strategic interaction between multiple players seeking to ascertain not necessarily their interpretation of a given set of information, but the interpretation and reaction of the other players in the game.
This Global Macroeconomics course examines the practice of interpreting economic information in a way that is helpful to decision makers. We address key theoretical concepts including basic macroeconomics, the business and debt cycles, monetary and fiscal policy, and international trade; but also leave the ivory tower to examine actual economic releases and discuss not what “should” happen but what does or can happen.
The course is broadly divided into two sections: Core Concepts and Key Economic Indicators & Data Series. The Core Concepts section of the course covers introductory economic theories and models that are required background information for economic analysis. This is done through an explanation of content followed by a real world example taken from a leading financial news source. The second portion of the course looks at key economic data series including among others, employment figures, price levels, monetary policy measures, and business/consumer activity measures. We use recent economic data to make it more applicable to current investment decisions and avoid the obfuscation that often accompanies older data sets.
Students should walk away with a better understanding of basic economic theory, how it translates into real world application, and knowledge about the distribution of and meaning behind important economic indicators. This is perfect for investment decision makers looking to integrate economic analysis into their decision making process or more experienced “economists” looking for a review of key concepts.
This course provides an in-depth introduction to credit risk. Techniques for modeling credit transition matrices are covered in great detail, while several statistical techniques for modeling default probabilities and correlations are explored in depth. Methodologies for modeling credit portfolio risk are covered, including the asset value approach and the structural approach. Prepayment models are developed for Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS). All models are developed in Excel/VBA.
This course provides an overview of Value at Risk (VaR) modeling for a wide array of financial assets, including stocks, bonds, forward contracts, futures contracts, swaps and options. The key statistical assumptions underlying the VaR methodology are explored; several different models for computing VaR are implemented in Excel. The Delta-Normal approach is used to compute VaR for bonds, stocks and linear derivative securities, such as forwards, futures and swaps, as well as calls and puts. The Delta-Gamma approach is introduced as an alternative to computing VaR for options; this approach can capture the non-linear behavior of an option but at the cost of greater computational complexity.
Full valuation approaches to computing VaR are covered in great detail; these have the advantage of being independent of any distributional assumptions about financial assets. These approaches include Historical Simulation, Weighted Historical Simulation and Monte Carlo Simulation. Several portfolio VaR measures are demonstrated; these are designed to measure the impact of a potential trade on portfolio VaR. These measures are known as Marginal VaR, Incremental VaR and Component VaR.
The course concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the VaR methodology, with a consideration of several alternative possible approaches.
This course provides an overview of portfolio modeling. The course reviews several key components of portfolio math, such as standard deviation, correlation and covariance, as well as optimization techniques. Markowitz’ formula for measuring portfolio risk is covered in detail. The equivalent matrix representation is introduced, along with Excel’s matrix algebra functions.
The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) framework is used to introduce several key concepts, such as beta and the efficient frontier. Excel Solver is used to derive the efficient frontier from a portfolio of stocks. Beta is estimated using linear regression analysis. The Capital Market Line and Security Market Line are derived, showing the relationship between risk and return in equity markets. The Sharpe Ratio is introduced as a measure of relative risk.
This course presents an overview of the Basel Accords and how they have evolved since their debut in 1988. The three-pillar structure is explained in great detail, with a focus on the measurement of capital requirements under Pillar 1. The Value at Risk methodology is covered in depth as a technique for computing market risk capital requirements. The key features of the approaches to computing credit risk capital are covered: the Standardized Approach, the Foundation Internal Ratings Based Approach and the Advanced Internal Ratings Based Approach.
The three approaches to computing operational risk capital are explored in detail: the Basic Indicator Approach, the Standardized Approach and the Advanced Measurement Approach. The new features of Basel III are explained, including changes to the measurement of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital, updates to the calculation of credit risk capital and a more advanced approach to measuring liquidity risk.
Similar to the Accounting Boot Camp above, this program covers the basics of financial accounting including the major financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow) and the most important components of each as it relates to financial analysis. Concentration is placed on the integration of the financial statements and provides a full integrated grasp of accounting from a finance perspective.
2.5 hours / 4 hours
“How to Analyze a 10-K” builds upon basic accounting and financial statements concepts to focus on the major components of a 10K SEC filing, including the Management Discussion & Analysis, Financial Condition and Results and how to analyze the myriad of footnotes.
It’s simply not enough to merely analyze the financial statements, but especially critical to plow through and understand the footnotes and the management discussion & analysis, where the most of the qualitative information is contained. The challenge is that there are a myriad of footnotes and figuring out which are the important and relevant ones is no small feat. This course provides the overview and analysis for most major common footnotes and gives you a starting point to plow in deeper when we build our financial models. The irony is that in the process of crunching numbers and building numbers, reading comprehension, particularly on the 10K is probably even more important in terms of getting the right inputs.
2 hours / 3 hours
Learn the basic finance concepts that are the backbone of any financial analysis. An understanding of these basic core tools is absolutely critical to mastering any Wall Street analysis. Topics covered include risk / return trade-offs, time value of money, cost of capital, Gordon growth model and basic valuation theories.
Moving beyond the accounting and 10K analysis, this course provides an introduction to the major concepts in finance that many people take for granted. Understanding financial modeling, valuation, and the capital markets in general would be difficult without a full grasp of these fundamental concepts.
1.5 hours / 2 hours
Company profiles are the most basic overview and descriptions of a company being analyzed. Profiles supply the most basic and fundamental, yet probably the most important aspects of a company. Gain an introduction and explanation of the major components of a profile for a publicly traded company.
1 hour / 1 hour
Build very quick financial summary and trading statistics exhibit using historical results, analyst estimates & basic assumptions in Excel. This course will allow you to understand basic structure of building an analysis in Excel and navigating through and becoming efficient in Excel.
1.5 hours / 2 hours
Learn how corporations are valued and the major analytical tools that are used. Go beyond academic theory to real-world methods as used by professionals; includes a crucial primer to Corporate Finance and its non-theoretical application. Apply learning objectives and goals immediately by analyzing a $6 billion+ transaction. Topics covered include: (i) how to value a company (trading comps, deal comps, DCF, LBO, break-up and asset valuation); (ii) importance of Enterprise Value, EBITDA, capital structure, leverage and WACC; (iii) analyze valuation multiples and ratios; why are PE ratios sub-optimal as a valuation metric?; (iv) practical, non-theoretical application of introduction to corporate finance.
2 hours / 2.5 hours
This course builds upon, and implements in Excel, the fundamental financial analysis and valuation topics. Create a top-down, five year income statement projection model and then construct a basic discounted cash flow analysis on top of your projection model.
** Don’t get thrown off by the word “basic” - this Basic Financial Modeling serves as the fundamental basis for all of our additional Excel-based courses. Before you “graduate” onto our advanced modeling courses, we HIGHLY recommend you take this course for the full background on working efficiently in Excel the way we want you to, otherwise you may have a much steeper learning curve in our other classes. **
4 hours / 5 hours
Build upon Corporate Valuation Methodologies with a short, hands-on exercise to hone in the core concepts in practice before diving into the more advanced valuation modeling topics. Translate the valuation concepts into real-life case study that demonstrates and shows the valuation principles.
1.5 hours / 2 hours
Build a fully integrated 5-year financial statement projection model by projecting the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, the Debt Sweep to balance model and Interest Schedule. This course will allow you to have a complete financial model projecting run-rate profitability, on which you can easily layer valuation and merger models.
3.5 hours / 5 hours
Build upon completed core model and layer on valuation analysis. Construct DCF valuation model, detailed revenue segment build-up, project more precise depreciation schedule, calculate credit & leverage statistics and ratios, construct a reference range and football field summary valuation. This Enhancements course will allow you to have a much more detailed stand-alone financial model and valuation model!
3 hours / 4 hours
Further enhance core integrated financial model by building a detailed tax schedule incorporating NOLs (Net Operating Losses), Section 382 limitations on NOL usage and differences between book and tax depreciation. Dive deep into re-calculating depreciation for tax purposes based on accelerated depreciation - MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) in the US. Incorporate and flow the accelerated tax depreciation into the larger tax schedule to account for differences in GAAP Pre-Tax Income and Taxable Income. Finish up with a quick Residual Income analysis and EVA (Economic Value Added) analysis, which complements our Enhancements Part I course.
3 hours / 4 hours
Learn how to build detailed revenue and segment build-ups into your larger financial model by quantifying the drivers of growth. Many financial projection models are based off simple revenue growth rate and expense margin assumptions, resulting in reduced precision in the projection model. This course teaches various approaches to true, bottoms-up, fundamental analysis for both publicly trade and listed companies as well as private companies or entities in which you have additional detail. We start by understanding the logic of channel checks and building the case for growth rates based on qualitative analysis and comprehension of industry- and company-specific drivers of growth. We then turn around and quantify our qualitative analysis by incorporating into our financial model on a business and operating segment basis. The results of the build-up analysis rolls into the Income Statement from your core integrated financial projection model. In addition, layer on sensitivity and scenario analysis to easily toggle through various cases, including base (management) case, upside and downside cases.
4 hours / 5 hours
Learn how corporations are valued and the major analytical tools that are used. Go beyond academic theory to real-world methods as used by professionals; includes a crucial primer to Corporate Finance and its non-theoretical application. Apply learning objectives and goals immediately by analyzing a $6 billion+ transaction. Topics covered include: (i) how to value a company (trading comps, deal comps, DCF, LBO, break-up and asset valuation); (ii) importance of Enterprise Value, EBITDA, capital structure, leverage and WACC; (iii) analyze valuation multiples and ratios; why are PE ratios sub-optimal as a valuation metric?; (iv) practical, non-theoretical application of introduction to corporate finance.
2 hours / 2.5 hours
Build a basic, quick and dirty, back-of-the-envelope trading comps analysis (analysis of selected publicly traded companies). This course will allow you to quickly construct a relative valuation analysis and serves as a critical basis for our Complex Trading Comps Analysis course.
1 hour / 1.5 hours
Relative Valuation Basics is an extracted section from Advanced Financial & Valuation Modeling - Enhancements course module. In particular, we construct the reference range and football field analysis to complete the valuation picture. We recommend taking the following courses in order to gain the holistic relative valuation view:
0.5 hour / 1 hour
Build a detailed, thorough trading comps analysis (analysis of selected publicly traded companies) and learn how to properly construct a relative valuation analysis the correct way as well as how to normalize financials for extraordinary items, non-recurring and restructuring charges. This course itself isn’t terribly complex or difficult, but is very tedious, time consuming and at times frustrating as it requires a great deal of patience, attention to detail and reading comprehension. Hence, the first four letters of the title “analyst” ring true - perfection is required to get the right numbers.
4.5 hours / 6.5 hours
Build a deal comps analysis (analysis of selected acquisitions), similar to trading comps analysis, but from an acquisition context using historical transaction data instead of current market valuation data. This course will allow you to properly construct a deal comps analysis the correct way, uncovering some of the nuances related to calculating transaction value and purchase price. This course is not a complex course and in fact, is a relative breeze compared with our Complex Trading Comps course, but builds upon the concepts in the latter course.
1.5 hours / 2 hours
This course builds upon our basic Corporate Valuation course and introduces the complex nuances associated with analyzing and valuing private companies. We dive deep into the details and concepts deeply imbedded with valuation of large publicly traded and listed companies and take it to next level by applying it to companies and regions with very sparse publicly available data. Learn nuances of adjusting for DCF valuation, WACC analysis when no data exists, how to select and adjust peer comparables when no “good comp” exists. While there is certainly no magic bullet to the tough questions and lack of information, there are techniques and best practices to get us as close as possible.
3 hours / 4 hours
Learn how to build detailed revenue and segment build-ups into your larger financial model by quantifying the drivers of growth. Many financial projection models are based off simple revenue growth rate and expense margin assumptions, resulting in reduced precision in the projection model. This course teaches various approaches to true, bottoms-up, fundamental analysis for both publicly trade and listed companies as well as private companies or entities in which you have additional detail. We start by understanding the logic of channel checks and building the case for growth rates based on qualitative analysis and comprehension of industry- and company-specific drivers of growth. We then turn around and quantify our qualitative analysis by incorporating into our financial model on a business and operating segment basis. The results of the build-up analysis rolls into the Income Statement from your core integrated financial projection model. In addition, layer on sensitivity and scenario analysis to easily toggle through various cases, including base (management) case, upside and downside cases.
4 hours / 5 hours
Pro Forma financial statements are a tool to recast financial results in a manner that is more representative of future performance and to remove the effects of private ownership. Pro Forma financial statements have one or more assumptions or hypothetical conditions built into the data and are often used to develop core earnings capacity (quality of earnings) when the objective is to value a company for sale to a third party or for internal perpetuation. The goal is to examine a sampling of the most common types of Pro Forma adjustments most often seen when valuing closely-held entities. Similar to analyzing one-time adjustments for public companies, the adjustments can affect both revenues and expenses, increasing or decreasing either one. However, private company pro form adjustments require a much more detailed analysis of each expense line to adjust for the effects of private ownership.
1.5 hours / 2.5 hours
This Merger Modeling - Earnout Discussion module builds upon our M&A Deal Structuring and Merger Modeling Basics course by reconciling differences that arise in private middle-market transactions in which a buyer wants to be rewarded for future growth and a seller is only willing to pay for growth that has been achieved. But, the seller reckons - “why should I sell when I believe I can achieve greater growth and then sell for an even larger valuation at that future point”. The main tool to bridge this gap is for the seller to put his money where his mouth is - if you say you can achieve $1 billion of revenue, then prove it - one should be willing to accept deferred, contingent payments for such future growth that has yet to be realized. In this add-on module, we explore different ways to analyze and structure earnouts.
1 hour / 1.5 hours