when performing sensitivity analysis: course hero

by Luis Mills 10 min read

What is sensitivity analysis?

Why is sensitivity analysis important?

What is scenario analysis?

What if analysis?

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What Is a Sensitivity Analysis? Definition and Examples

Experts use sensitivity analyses to determine how different values in a set of independent variables affect a specific dependent variable. Economists and financial analysts use sensitivity analysis to predict companies' share prices or gauge the effect of interest rates.

How is sensitivity analysis used? - Investopedia

Sensitivity analysis is used to identify how much variations in the input values for a given variable will impact the results for a mathematical model.

What is sensitivity analysis?

In general, sensitivity analysis is used in a wide range of fields, ranging from biology and geography to economics and engineering. It is especially useful in the study and analysis of a “Black Box Process” where the output is an opaque function of several inputs.

Why is sensitivity analysis important?

Sensitivity analysis helps one make informed choices. Decision-makers use the model to understand how responsive the output is to changes in certain variables. Thus, the analyst can be helpful in deriving tangible conclusions and be instrumental in making optimal decisions.

What is scenario analysis?

Scenario Analysis Scenario analysis is a process of examining and evaluating possible events or scenarios that could take place in the future and predicting the. Analysis of Financial Statements. Analysis of Financial Statements How to perform Analysis of Financial Statements.

What if analysis?

What-If Analysis. A Financial Sensitivity Analysis, also known as a What-If analysis or a What-If simulation exercise , is most commonly used by financial analysts. The Analyst Trifecta® Guide The ultimate guide on how to be a world-class financial analyst.

9.1 Overview

In every step of a cost-benefit analysis, we have to make choices and assumptions based on limited information. This includes choices about:

9.2 Partial Sensitivity Analysis

In a partial sensitivity analysis (also called univariate or one-way sensitivity analysis), you try a range of values for a single variable — holding everything else constant — and see how it affects your conclusions.

9.3 Monte Carlo Simulation

What if you want to vary multiple assumptions at once? Ideally, you could see what happens at every possible combination of parameter values, but that would be infeasible. Once you start varying more than one value, there are just too many combinations!

What is sensitivity analysis?

In general, sensitivity analysis is used in a wide range of fields, ranging from biology and geography to economics and engineering. It is especially useful in the study and analysis of a “Black Box Process” where the output is an opaque function of several inputs.

Why is sensitivity analysis important?

Sensitivity analysis helps one make informed choices. Decision-makers use the model to understand how responsive the output is to changes in certain variables. Thus, the analyst can be helpful in deriving tangible conclusions and be instrumental in making optimal decisions.

What is scenario analysis?

Scenario Analysis Scenario analysis is a process of examining and evaluating possible events or scenarios that could take place in the future and predicting the. Analysis of Financial Statements. Analysis of Financial Statements How to perform Analysis of Financial Statements.

What if analysis?

What-If Analysis. A Financial Sensitivity Analysis, also known as a What-If analysis or a What-If simulation exercise , is most commonly used by financial analysts. The Analyst Trifecta® Guide The ultimate guide on how to be a world-class financial analyst.

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What-If Analysis

Sensitivity Analysis Example

  • John is in charge of sales for HOLIDAY CO, a business that sells Christmas decorations at a shopping mall. John knows that the holiday season is approaching and that the mall will be crowded. He wants to find out whether an increase in customer traffic at the mall will raise the total sales revenueof HOLIDAY CO and, if so, then by how much. The average price of a packet o…
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Sensitivity Analysis vs. Scenario Analysis

  • It is important not to confuse Financial Sensitivity Analysis with Financial Scenario Analysis. Although similar to some degree, the two have some key differences. Sensitivity Analysis is used to understand the effect of a set of independent variables on some dependent variable under certain specific conditions. For example, a financial analyst wants to find out the effect of a com…
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Advantages of Financial Sensitivity Analysis

  • There are many important reasons to perform sensitivity analysis: 1. Sensitivity analysis adds credibility to any type of financial modelby testing the model across a wide set of possibilities. 2. Financial Sensitivity Analysis allows the analyst to be flexible with the boundaries within which to test the sensitivity of the dependent variables to t...
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Best Practices in Sensitivity Analysis

  • #1 Layout in Excel
    Layout, structure, and planning are all important for good sensitivity analysis in Excel. If a model is not well organized, then both the creator and the users of the model will be confused and the analysis will be prone to error. The most important points to keep in mind for layout in Excel incl…
  • #2 Direct versus indirect methods
    The direct methodinvolves substituting different numbers into an assumption in a model. For example, if the revenue growth assumption in a model is 10% year-over-year (YoY), then the revenue formula is = (last year revenue) x (1 + 10%). In the direct approach, we substitute differe…
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Video Explanation of Sensitivity Analysis

  • Watch this short video to quickly understand the main concepts covered in this guide, including the Direct and Indirect methods.
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Related Articles and Guides

  • Thank you for reading this guide to sensitivity analysis. To learn more about financial modeling, these free CFI resources will be helpful: 1. Scenario Analysis 2. Analysis of Financial Statements 3. DCF Modeling Guide 4. Financial Modeling Best Practices
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