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Initiating Coverage

AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic

  • Skill
  • Workflow
  • Business and productivity
  • Apache-2.0
  • Low risk

From the author

Create institutional-quality equity research initiation reports through a 5-task workflow. Tasks must be executed individually with verified prerequisites - (1) company research, (2) financial modeling, (3) valuation analysis, (4) chart generation, (5) final report assembly. Each task produces specific deliverables (markdown docs, Excel models, charts, or DOCX reports). Tasks 3-5 have dependencies on earlier tasks.
— the description by Anthropic

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a systematic, multi-task process for generating equity research initiation reports. It enforces a strict, single-task execution model to ensure each component of the report—company research, financial modeling, valuation analysis, chart generation, and final assembly—is completed with verified inputs before moving to the next stage. The workflow is designed to produce professional-grade documentation, including detailed financial models, valuation analysis, and visual charts, following institutional standards.

What it does

  • Conducts qualitative company research including management bios and competitive analysis.
  • Builds comprehensive Excel financial models with 6 essential tabs.
  • Performs valuation analysis using DCF, comparables, and precedent transactions.
  • Generates 25-35 professional financial charts for visual data representation.
  • Assembles all components into a final, text-dense DOCX research report.

When to use it

  • When you need to produce a comprehensive equity research initiation report.
  • When you require a structured, step-by-step approach to financial analysis.
  • When you need to maintain strict quality control across multiple research tasks.
  • When you are preparing institutional-standard financial documentation.

Advantages

  • Enforces a logical, dependency-aware task order.
  • Ensures data integrity by verifying prerequisites before each task.
  • Produces standardized, professional-grade financial outputs.
  • Provides clear, granular control over the research and assembly process.

Usage examples

“Use initiating-coverage, Task 1 for Tesla”
The agent initiates the company research task for Tesla, producing a detailed research document.
“Do Task 2 of initiating-coverage for Tesla”
The agent begins the financial modeling task, requiring access to financial statements or pre-extracted data.
“Run Task 3 for Tesla using the initiating-coverage skill”
The agent performs valuation analysis, provided that the financial model from Task 2 is already complete.
“I want to complete all 5 tasks for Tesla”
The agent explains the one-task-at-a-time requirement and asks to start with Task 1.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/initiating-coverage/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip initiating-coverage.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Anthropic

Initiating Coverage

Create institutional-quality equity research initiation reports through a structured 5-task workflow. Each task must be executed separately with verified inputs.

Overview

This skill produces comprehensive first-time coverage reports following institutional standards (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley format). Tasks are executed individually, each verifying prerequisites before proceeding.

Default Font: Times New Roman throughout all documents (unless user specifies otherwise).


⚠️ CRITICAL: One Task at a Time

THIS SKILL OPERATES IN SINGLE-TASK MODE ONLY.

If User Requests Full Pipeline

When user requests:

  • "Create a coverage initiation report for [Company]"

  • "Write an initiation report for [Company]"

  • "Do the entire equity research process for [Company]"

  • "Complete all 5 tasks for [Company]"

  • Any request that implies running multiple tasks or the entire workflow

REQUIRED RESPONSE:

  1. Ask which specific task to perform:

    I can help you create an equity research initiation report for [Company].
    This involves 5 separate tasks that need to be completed individually:
    
    1. Company Research - Research business, management, industry
    2. Financial Modeling - Build projection model
    3. Valuation Analysis - DCF and comparable companies
    4. Chart Generation - Create 25-35 charts
    5. Report Assembly - Compile final report
    
    Which task would you like to start with?
  2. When user explicitly requests all tasks together:

    I understand you'd like to complete the entire initiation report pipeline.
    Currently, this skill supports executing one task at a time, which allows
    for better quality control and review at each stage.
    
    We're working on a seamless end-to-end workflow that will make this process
    more automated, but for now, we'll need to complete each task separately.
    
    Would you like to start with Task 1 (Company Research)?
  3. Never automatically assume which task to start - always ask user to confirm.

  4. Never execute multiple tasks in sequence - complete one task, deliver outputs, then wait for next user request.

Task Execution Rules
  • ✅ Execute exactly ONE task per user request

  • ✅ Always verify prerequisites before starting a task

  • ✅ Deliver task outputs and confirm completion

  • ✅ Wait for user to explicitly request the next task

  • ❌ Never chain multiple tasks together automatically

  • ❌ Never assume user wants to proceed to next task

  • ❌ Never execute Tasks 3-5 without verifying required inputs exist

⚠️ Deliverables Policy: NO SHORTCUTS

DELIVER ONLY THE SPECIFIED OUTPUTS. DO NOT CREATE EXTRA DOCUMENTS.

Each task specifies exact deliverables. Do NOT create:

  • ❌ "Completion summaries"

  • ❌ "Executive summaries"

  • ❌ "Quick reference guides"

  • ❌ "Next steps documents"

  • ❌ "Task completion reports"

  • ❌ Any other "helpful" documentation not explicitly specified

Why: These extras waste context and are not part of the professional workflow.

What TO deliver:

  • ✅ Task 1: Research document (.md) — NOTHING ELSE

  • ✅ Task 2: Financial model (.xlsx) — NOTHING ELSE

  • ✅ Task 3: Valuation analysis (.md) + Excel tabs added to Task 2 file — NOTHING ELSE

  • ✅ Task 4: Charts zip file (.zip) — NOTHING ELSE

  • ✅ Task 5: Final report (.docx) — NOTHING ELSE

If a deliverable is not listed above, DO NOT CREATE IT.


Task Selection

Select which task to execute:

TaskNamePrerequisitesOutput
1Company ResearchCompany name/ticker6-8K word document
2Financial Modeling10-K or financials accessExcel model (6 tabs)
3Valuation AnalysisFinancial model (Task 2)Valuation + price target
4Chart GenerationTasks 1, 2, 3 + external data25-35 PNG/JPG charts
5Report AssemblyALL previous tasks (1-4)30-50 page DOCX report

How to Use This Skill

User Request Patterns and Responses

Pattern 1: User specifies a specific task

User: "Use initiating-coverage, Task 1 for Tesla"
Response: ✅ Execute Task 1 immediately

Pattern 2: User asks for "initiation report" or "full pipeline"

User: "Create a coverage initiation report for Tesla"
Response: ❌ DO NOT start any task automatically
         ✅ Ask which task to start with (see template above)

Pattern 3: User wants to do "all tasks" or "entire workflow"

User: "I want to complete all 5 tasks for Tesla"
Response: ❌ DO NOT chain tasks together
         ✅ Explain one-at-a-time limitation (see template above)
         ✅ Ask if they want to start with Task 1
Correct Usage Examples

Executing a single task:

"Use initiating-coverage skill, Task 1 for Tesla"
"Do Task 2 of initiating-coverage for Tesla"
"Run Task 3 for Tesla using the initiating-coverage skill"

Completing full report (requires 5 separate requests):

Request 1: "Do Task 1 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 2: "Do Task 2 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 3: "Do Task 3 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 4: "Do Task 4 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 5: "Do Task 5 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Task Execution Order

For a complete initiation report, tasks must be executed in separate user requests following this order:

Request 1: Task 1 - Company Research (independent)
           ↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 2: Task 2 - Financial Modeling (independent)
           ↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 3: Task 3 - Valuation Analysis (requires Task 2 output)
           ↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 4: Task 4 - Chart Generation (requires Tasks 2 & 3 outputs)
           ↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 5: Task 5 - Report Assembly (requires ALL previous task outputs)

Note: Tasks 1 and 2 can be run in any order. Tasks 3-5 have strict dependencies and must verify inputs before proceeding.


Task 1: Company Research

Purpose: Research company's business, management, competitive position, industry, and risks.

Prerequisites: ✅ None (fully independent)

  • Company name or ticker symbol

Process:

  1. Verify company name/ticker provided

  2. Load detailed instructions from references/task1-company-research.md

  3. Execute qualitative research workflow

  4. Deliver research document

Output: Company Research Document (6,000-8,000 words)

  • Company overview & history

  • Management bios (300-400 words × 3-4 execs)

  • Products & services analysis

  • Industry overview

  • Competitive analysis (5-10 competitors)

  • TAM sizing

  • Risk assessment (8-12 risks)

File name: [Company]_Research_Document_[Date].md

⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 FILE. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.

⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:

  • ✅ Write full 6,000-8,000 words (not summaries)

  • ✅ Complete 300-400 word bios for ALL 3-4 executives

  • ✅ Analyze ALL 5-10 competitors thoroughly

  • ✅ Cover all 8-12 risks across 4 categories

  • ❌ Do not abbreviate sections to save time

  • ❌ Do not skip any required sections

Verification before proceeding: None required for this task.


Task 2: Financial Modeling

Purpose: Extract historical financials and build comprehensive Excel financial model with projections and scenarios.

Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting

  • Required: Access to company financial data

    • For public companies: Latest 10-K from SEC EDGAR

    • For private companies: Financial statements or available estimates

    • OR: Pre-extracted historical financials provided by user

  • Optional: Company research (Task 1) for business context

Input Verification:

BEFORE STARTING - Select approach:

Option A: Extract financials (most common)
- [ ] Have access to 10-K or financial statements?
- [ ] Ready to extract 3-5 years of data?

Option B: User provided pre-extracted financials
- [ ] Historical financials file received?
- [ ] Contains income statement, cash flow, balance sheet (3-5 years)?

Optional:
- [ ] Company research (Task 1) complete for context?

Process:

  1. Verify access to financial data

  2. Load detailed instructions from references/task2-financial-modeling.md

  3. Step 1: Extract historical financials (if needed)

  4. Step 2+: Build projection model with 6 essential tabs

  5. Deliver Excel model

Output: Excel Financial Model (.xlsx)

  • 6 essential tabs:

    1. Revenue Model - Product breakdown (20-30 rows) + Geography breakdown (15-20 rows)

    2. Income Statement - Full P&L with 40-50 line items, historical (3-5 years) + projected (5 years)

    3. Cash Flow Statement - Operating/Investing/Financing activities, historical + projected

    4. Balance Sheet - Assets/Liabilities/Equity, historical + projected

    5. Scenarios - Bull/Base/Bear comparison table

    6. DCF Inputs - Prepared for Task 3 valuation

File name: [Company]_Financial_Model_[Date].xlsx

⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 FILE. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.

⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:

  • ✅ If extracting financials: Extract ALL line items from 3 financial statements (3-5 years)

  • ✅ Build ALL 6 projection tabs completely with full detail

  • ✅ Create detailed revenue model with 20-30 product rows AND 15-20 geography rows

  • ✅ Build complete income statement with 40-50 line items (not abbreviated)

  • ✅ Include full cash flow statement and balance sheet with all line items

  • ✅ Complete ALL three scenarios (Bull/Base/Bear) with different parameters

  • ❌ Do not create simplified/abbreviated versions

  • ❌ Do not skip any of the 6 essential tabs

  • ❌ Do not skip historical financials extraction if needed

Verification before proceeding to Task 3:

  • [ ] Historical financials extracted (if needed) or provided

  • [ ] Excel file created and can be opened

  • [ ] Model has all 6 essential tabs (Revenue Model, Income Statement, Cash Flow, Balance Sheet, Scenarios, DCF Inputs)

  • [ ] Historical data (3-5 years) incorporated

  • [ ] Projections complete (5 years forward)

  • [ ] Scenarios complete (Bull/Base/Bear)


Task 3: Valuation Analysis

Purpose: Perform comprehensive valuation using DCF, comparables, and precedent transactions.

Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting

  • Required: Financial model from Task 2

    • Projected income statements

    • Projected cash flows

    • Revenue and EBITDA forecasts

    • DCF inputs (unlevered FCF)

⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS TASK 2 IS COMPLETE

This task requires the financial model from Task 2. Starting without it will result in incomplete work.

IF TASK 2 IS NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user that Task 2 (Financial Modeling) must be completed first. Do not attempt to proceed or create placeholder valuations.

Input Verification:

BEFORE STARTING:
- [ ] Task 2 complete? (Financial model exists)
- [ ] Model file path/location known?
- [ ] Can access projected financials from model?

Required from model:
- [ ] Projected FCF (5 years)
- [ ] Revenue projections
- [ ] EBITDA projections
- [ ] Terminal year metrics

Process:

  1. Verify financial model is accessible

  2. Load detailed instructions from references/task3-valuation.md

  3. Execute valuation workflow

  4. Deliver valuation analysis

Output: Valuation Analysis (4-6 pages + Excel tabs)

  • DCF analysis with sensitivity tables

  • Comparable companies (5-10 peers with statistical summary)

  • Precedent transactions (if applicable)

  • Valuation football field

  • Price target: $XX.XX

  • Recommendation: BUY/HOLD/SELL

  • Upside: XX%

  • Key catalysts (3-5)

Files:

  • [Company]_Valuation_Analysis_[Date].md (written analysis document)

  • Excel tabs added to [Company]_Financial_Model_[Date].xlsx (from Task 2)

    • DCF tab with calculations

    • Sensitivity analysis tab

    • Comparable companies tab

    • Valuation summary tab

⚠️ DELIVER ONLY: 1 markdown file + 4 tabs added to existing Excel. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.

⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:

  • ✅ Complete full DCF analysis with sensitivity matrix (not simplified)

  • ✅ Analyze ALL 5-10 comparable companies with full data

  • ✅ Include statistical summary in comps table (max/75th/median/25th/min)

  • ✅ Create complete sensitivity analysis tab with multiple WACC and terminal growth scenarios

  • ✅ Write full 4-6 pages of valuation analysis (not abbreviated)

  • ✅ Research and justify price target with specific methodology

  • ❌ Do not skip comparable company analysis

  • ❌ Do not create simplified DCF without sensitivity

Verification before proceeding to Task 4:

  • [ ] Price target determined

  • [ ] Valuation uses multiple methods (DCF + Comps minimum)

  • [ ] DCF sensitivity table complete

  • [ ] Comparable companies table includes statistical summary


Task 4: Chart Generation

Purpose: Generate 25-35 professional financial charts for the report.

Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting

  • Required: Company research from Task 1

    • Company history and milestones (for timeline charts)

    • Management team and org structure (for org charts)

    • Product portfolio (for product charts)

    • Customer segmentation (for customer charts)

    • Competitive landscape (for competitive charts)

    • TAM analysis (for market size charts)

  • Required: Financial model from Task 2 (with Task 3 valuation tabs added)

    • Revenue by product/geography data (Task 2 tabs)

    • Margin trends (Task 2 tabs)

    • Scenario comparison data (Task 2 tabs)

    • DCF sensitivity table (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)

    • Comparable companies data (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)

    • Valuation ranges (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)

  • Required: External market data

    • Historical stock price data (Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, etc.)

    • Historical valuation multiples (for historical trend charts)

⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS TASKS 1, 2, AND 3 ARE COMPLETE

This task requires outputs from all three previous tasks. Starting without them will result in incomplete charts.

IF ANY OF TASKS 1, 2, OR 3 ARE NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user which tasks need to be completed first. The specific requirements are:

  • Task 1: Company research document (for 9 charts)

  • Task 2: Financial model with all 6 tabs (for 8 charts)

  • Task 3: Valuation tabs added to the model (for 6 charts)

  • External data access (for 2 charts)

Do not attempt to create placeholder charts or skip charts due to missing data.

Input Verification:

BEFORE STARTING:
- [ ] Task 1 complete? (Company research exists)
- [ ] Task 2 complete? (Financial model exists)
- [ ] Task 3 complete? (Valuation analysis exists)
- [ ] Can access external market data sources?

Required from Task 1:
- [ ] Company history and milestones (for charts 05, 06)
- [ ] Management team structure (for chart 07)
- [ ] Product portfolio details (for chart 08)
- [ ] Customer segmentation data (for chart 09)
- [ ] Competitive landscape analysis (for charts 16, 17, 18)
- [ ] TAM sizing and market data (for chart 15)

Required from Task 2:
- [ ] Revenue by product (historical + projected) - for chart 03 ⭐
- [ ] Revenue by geography (historical + projected) - for chart 04 ⭐
- [ ] Income statement with margins (for charts 02, 10, 11)
- [ ] Cash flow statement (for chart 12)
- [ ] Scenario comparison data (for chart 14)

Required from Task 3:
- [ ] DCF sensitivity matrix - for chart 28 ⭐
- [ ] DCF components (for chart 29)
- [ ] Comparable companies data (for charts 30, 31)
- [ ] Valuation ranges - for chart 32 ⭐

Required from External Sources:
- [ ] Historical stock price data (for chart 01)
- [ ] Historical valuation multiples (for chart 34)

Process:

  1. Verify model and valuation outputs are accessible

  2. Load detailed instructions from references/task4-chart-generation.md

  3. Execute chart generation workflow

  4. Package all charts into a zip file

  5. Deliver zip file

Output: 25-35 Professional Chart Files (PNG/JPG, 300 DPI) packaged in zip

4 MANDATORY Charts (must be present) ⭐:

  • chart_03: Revenue by product (stacked area)

  • chart_04: Revenue by geography (stacked bar)

  • chart_28: DCF sensitivity (2-way heatmap)

  • chart_32: Valuation football field (horizontal bars)

25 REQUIRED Charts (specific list):

  • Investment Summary: chart_01

  • Financial Performance: charts 02, 03⭐, 04⭐, 10, 11, 12, 14

  • Company 101: charts 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 15, 16

  • Competitive/Market: charts 17, 18

  • Scenario Analysis: chart 13

  • Valuation: charts 28⭐, 29, 30, 31, 32⭐, 33, 34

10 OPTIONAL Charts (for 26-35 range):

  • charts 19-27, 35 (customer acquisition, unit economics, product roadmap, etc.)

IMPORTANT: Task 5 embeds ALL charts created (25-35) for visual density (1 chart per 200-300 words).

File naming: chart_01_description.png, chart_02_description.png, etc.

Deliverable: [Company]_Charts_[Date].zip containing all 25-35 chart files + chart_index.txt

⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 ZIP FILE. NO completion summaries, no separate chart lists, no extra documents.

⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:

  • ✅ Create ALL 25 required charts minimum (specific list provided in task4-chart-generation.md)

  • ✅ Include ALL 4 mandatory charts:

    • chart_03: Revenue by product (stacked area) ⭐

    • chart_04: Revenue by geography (stacked bar) ⭐

    • chart_28: DCF sensitivity (heatmap) ⭐

    • chart_32: Valuation football field ⭐

  • ✅ Optional: Add 1-10 more charts to reach 26-35 total for greater visual density

  • ✅ Generate professional-quality charts at 300 DPI (not low-res placeholders)

  • ✅ Create unique, well-formatted charts for each visualization

  • ✅ Package all charts in zip file with chart index

  • ❌ Do not create only 10-15 charts (minimum is 25)

  • ❌ Do not skip any of the 4 mandatory charts

  • ❌ Do not use low-quality/placeholder images

Verification before proceeding to Task 5:

  • [ ] Minimum 25 chart files created (required)

  • [ ] All 4 mandatory charts present:

    • [ ] chart_03: Revenue by product ⭐

    • [ ] chart_04: Revenue by geography ⭐

    • [ ] chart_28: DCF sensitivity ⭐

    • [ ] chart_32: Valuation football field ⭐

  • [ ] All charts open and display correctly

  • [ ] Charts saved at 300 DPI (print quality)

  • [ ] Chart index created listing all files with categories

  • [ ] All charts packaged in zip file

  • [ ] File naming follows convention: chart_##_description.png


Task 5: Report Assembly

Purpose: Write and assemble the comprehensive final DOCX report.

Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting

  • Required: Company research from Task 1

    • All 6-8K words of content

    • Management bios

    • Competitive analysis

    • Risk assessment

  • Required: Financial model from Task 2

    • Excel workbook

    • All projections and scenarios

  • Required: Valuation analysis from Task 3

    • Price target and recommendation

    • DCF, comps, precedent transactions

    • All valuation data

  • Required: Chart files from Task 4

    • Zip file containing all 25-35 PNG/JPG files

    • Chart index included in zip

⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS ALL TASKS 1-4 ARE COMPLETE

This is the final assembly task. It cannot be completed without all previous work products.

IF ANY OF TASKS 1, 2, 3, OR 4 ARE NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user which tasks need to be completed first. The specific requirements are:

  • Task 1: Company research document (6-8K words)

  • Task 2: Financial model with all 6 tabs

  • Task 3: Valuation analysis with price target and recommendation

  • Task 4: Charts zip file with 25-35 charts

Do not attempt to create placeholder content, substitute missing sections, or assemble an incomplete report. The report requires ALL inputs to be publication-ready.

Input Verification:

BEFORE STARTING - ALL TASKS MUST BE COMPLETE:

Task 1 Verification:
- [ ] Company research document exists? (6-8K words)
- [ ] Management bios complete? (300-400 words × 3-4 execs)
- [ ] Competitive analysis complete? (5-10 competitors)
- [ ] Risk assessment complete? (8-12 risks)

Task 2 Verification:
- [ ] Financial model exists and can be opened?
- [ ] Model has projections (5 years)?
- [ ] Scenarios exist (Bull/Base/Bear)?

Task 3 Verification:
- [ ] Valuation analysis complete?
- [ ] Price target determined?
- [ ] Recommendation set? (BUY/HOLD/SELL)
- [ ] DCF and comps complete?

Task 4 Verification:
- [ ] Chart zip file exists?
- [ ] Can extract/access all 25-35 chart files from zip?
- [ ] All 4 mandatory charts present?
  - [ ] Revenue by product (stacked area)
  - [ ] Revenue by geography (stacked bar)
  - [ ] DCF sensitivity (heatmap)
  - [ ] Valuation football field
- [ ] Chart files accessible and can be opened?

IF ANY VERIFICATION FAILS: Stop and complete missing task first.

Process:

  1. CRITICAL: Verify ALL prerequisites before starting

  2. Load detailed instructions from references/task5-report-assembly.md

  3. Execute report assembly workflow using Claude's built-in skills:

    • Use DOCX skill to create and manipulate the Word document

    • Use XLSX skill to read Excel data from Task 2/3

    • Use Read tool to read Task 1 and Task 3 markdown files

    • Read Task 1 .md file → Convert to Word formatting → Insert charts inline

    • Read Task 2 .xlsx file → Extract tables → Write quantitative analysis

    • Read Task 3 .md file + Excel tabs → Copy/adapt valuation analysis

    • Insert Task 4 .png chart files throughout using DOCX skill

    • Create text-dense report with charts interspersed every 200-300 words

  4. Save and deliver final DOCX report

Key Principles:

  • Use Claude's DOCX and XLSX skills (NOT Python libraries)

  • Use actual file operations (read .md/.xlsx/.png files, write .docx file)

  • Good equity research reports are text-dense with lots of illustrating images (60-80% page coverage, 1+ chart per page)

🔥 CRITICAL: GO ALL OUT ON THIS TASK

THIS IS THE FINAL DELIVERABLE. DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS.

  • ✅ Use full token budget - This is the culmination of all previous work

  • ✅ Write every section completely - Do not summarize or abbreviate

  • ✅ Hit ALL minimum requirements - 30+ pages, 10,000+ words, 25+ charts, 12+ tables

  • ✅ Be thorough on projection assumptions - 2,000-3,000 words with product-by-product detail

  • ✅ Be comprehensive on scenarios - 1,500-2,000 words with specific Bull/Base/Bear parameters

  • ✅ Insert ALL charts from Task 4 - Not just a few, ALL 25-35 charts throughout

  • ✅ Create ALL tables from Task 2/3 - Extract every financial table, don't skip any

  • ✅ Use Task 1 content verbatim - Copy/paste full Company 101 sections (6-8K words)

  • ✅ Professional quality only - This must be indistinguishable from JPMorgan/Goldman Sachs research

NEVER:

  • ❌ "This section would include..." - WRITE THE ACTUAL SECTION

  • ❌ "Charts would be inserted here..." - INSERT THE ACTUAL CHARTS

  • ❌ "See financial model for details..." - EXTRACT AND INCLUDE THE DETAILS

  • ❌ Skip sections due to length - Every section MUST be complete

  • ❌ Abbreviate for token conservation - Use whatever tokens are needed

This is publication-ready institutional research. Spare no effort, tokens, or detail.

Output: Comprehensive Equity Research Report (.docx)

Specifications:

  • Length: 30-50 pages (MINIMUM 30)

  • Word count: 10,000-15,000 words (MINIMUM 10,000)

  • Charts: 25-35 embedded images

  • Tables: 12-20 comprehensive tables

  • Format: Professional DOCX with clickable hyperlinks

Structure:

  • Page 1: Investment Summary (INITIATING COVERAGE format)

  • Pages 2-5: Investment thesis & risks

  • Pages 6-17: Company 101

  • Pages 18-30: Financial analysis & projections

  • Pages 31-40: Valuation analysis

  • Pages 41-50: Appendices

File name: [Company]_Initiation_Report_[Date].docx

⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 DOCX FILE. NO executive summaries, no "highlights" documents, no extra files.

Final Verification:

  • [ ] Report is 30-50 pages

  • [ ] Word count is 10,000-15,000

  • [ ] 25-35 charts embedded

  • [ ] 12-20 tables included

  • [ ] All citations are clickable hyperlinks

  • [ ] Numbers match financial model exactly


Input Verification Protocol

Why Input Verification Matters

Each task has strict prerequisites. Running a task without required inputs will:

  • Waste time with incomplete work

  • Produce low-quality outputs

  • Require rework

Always verify inputs before starting a task.

Verification Checklist by Task

Task 1: ✅ No verification needed (independent)

Task 2: Check historical financials available

Task 3: Check financial model exists and is accessible

Task 4: Check both model (Task 2) AND valuation (Task 3) exist

Task 5: Check ALL previous tasks complete (1, 2, 3, 4)

What to Do if Verification Fails
IF prerequisites are missing:
1. Stop the current task
2. Identify which prerequisite task(s) need to be completed
3. Execute the missing task(s) first
4. Return to current task once prerequisites are met
Example Verification Dialogue
User: "Use initiating-coverage, Task 5 for Tesla"

Claude: "Starting Task 5: Report Assembly for Tesla

VERIFICATION - Checking prerequisites:
- Task 1 (Company research)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 2 (Financial model)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 3 (Valuation)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 4 (Charts)... ❌ NOT FOUND

⚠️ VERIFICATION FAILED

Task 5 requires ALL previous tasks to be complete.

To proceed:
1. Complete Task 1: Company Research
2. Complete Task 2: Financial Modeling
3. Complete Task 3: Valuation Analysis
4. Complete Task 4: Chart Generation
5. Then return to Task 5

Would you like to start with Task 1 first?"

Task Reference Files

Detailed instructions for each task are in separate reference files to keep this skill lean:

  • references/task1-company-research.md - Company research workflow

  • references/task2-financial-modeling.md - Financial modeling workflow

  • references/task3-valuation.md - Valuation methodology

    • Also see: references/valuation-methodologies.md for DCF/comps deep dive

  • references/task4-chart-generation.md - Chart generation workflow

  • references/task5-report-assembly.md - Report writing workflow

    • Also see: assets/report-template.md for report structure

    • Also see: assets/quality-checklist.md for quality checks

When to load reference files: Load ONLY the reference file associated with the specific task being performed. These files are very large - do not load multiple reference files at once. Read the appropriate task reference file at the start of the task for detailed step-by-step instructions.


Quality Standards

All outputs meet institutional standards from leading investment banks (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley):

  • Comprehensive: Meet all minimum requirements

  • Detailed: Specific data and examples, not generic statements

  • Quantified: Lead with numbers and metrics

  • Cited: Proper sources with clickable hyperlinks

  • Professional: Institutional-quality formatting

  • Accurate: All numbers verified and cross-checked


Important Notes

Task Independence
  • Task 1 can run anytime (no dependencies)

  • Task 2 can run anytime (just needs historical data)

  • Tasks 1 & 2 can run in parallel

  • Task 3 requires Task 2

  • Task 4 requires Tasks 2 & 3

  • Task 5 requires Tasks 1, 2, 3, & 4

Session Management

Same session: Outputs automatically available to subsequent tasks

Different sessions: Reference previous task outputs explicitly

"Use Task 3 with the model from yesterday at [path]"
"Use Task 5 with the research document at [path]"
File Organization

Recommended structure during workflow:

ProjectFolder/
├── Task1_Research/
│   └── [Company]_Research_Document.md
├── Task2_Model/
│   └── [Company]_Financial_Model.xlsx
├── Task3_Valuation/
│   └── [Company]_Valuation_Analysis.pdf
├── Task4_Charts/
│   ├── chart_01.png
│   └── ... (25-35 files)
└── Task5_Report/
    └── [Company]_Initiation_Report.docx
No End-to-End Execution

This skill does NOT support running all tasks automatically in sequence. Each task must be explicitly requested and verified.

Why: This ensures:

  • Quality control at each stage

  • Ability to review outputs before proceeding

  • Flexibility to pause/resume workflow

  • Clear verification of prerequisites


Success Criteria

A successful initiation report workflow should:

  1. Complete all 5 tasks in order

  2. Pass all input verifications

  3. Meet all quality standards

  4. Produce all required deliverables

  5. Numbers cross-check between outputs

  6. Final report is publication-ready

Output quality: Institutional (JPMorgan/Goldman/Morgan Stanley level) Use case: First-time comprehensive coverage of a company

Files

references/task3-valuation.md

Task 3: Valuation Analysis - Detailed Workflow

This document provides step-by-step instructions for executing Task 3 (Valuation Analysis) of the initiating-coverage skill.

Task Overview

Purpose: Perform comprehensive valuation using DCF, comparables, and precedent transactions.

Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting

  • Required: Financial model from Task 2

    • Projected income statements

    • Projected cash flows

    • Revenue and EBITDA forecasts

    • DCF inputs (unlevered FCF)

⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS TASK 2 IS COMPLETE

This task requires the financial model from Task 2. Starting without it will result in incomplete work.

IF TASK 2 IS NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user that Task 2 (Financial Modeling) must be completed first. Do not attempt to proceed or create placeholder valuations.

Output: Valuation Analysis (4-6 pages + Excel tabs)

  • DCF analysis with sensitivity tables

  • Comparable companies analysis

  • Precedent transactions (if applicable)

  • Valuation football field

  • Price target and recommendation


Input Verification

BEFORE STARTING - CHECK:

  • [ ] Task 2 complete? (Financial model exists)

  • [ ] Model file path/location known?

  • [ ] Can access projected financials from model?

Required from model:

  • [ ] Projected FCF (5 years)

  • [ ] Revenue projections

  • [ ] EBITDA projections

  • [ ] Terminal year metrics

  • [ ] Balance sheet data (debt, cash, shares)

IF VERIFICATION FAILS: Stop and complete Task 2 (Financial Modeling) before proceeding.


Detailed Methodology Reference

For deep dive on valuation methodologies, formulas, and theory, see: valuation-methodologies.md

This workflow document focuses on execution steps. Reference the methodology file for:

  • DCF theory and formulas

  • WACC calculation details

  • Terminal value methods

  • Comparable companies theory

  • Precedent transactions theory


Step-by-Step Valuation Workflow

Step 1: Extract Data from Financial Model

From Task 2's financial model, extract:

  1. Projected Financials (5 years)

    • Revenue by year (2025E-2029E)

    • EBITDA by year

    • EBIT by year

    • Tax rate

    • D&A by year

    • CapEx by year

    • Change in NWC by year

  2. Unlevered Free Cash Flow

    Extract from DCF Inputs tab in financial model:
    
                    2025E   2026E   2027E   2028E   2029E
    EBIT            $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX
    × (1 - Tax Rate)
    = NOPAT         $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX
    + D&A           $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX
    - CapEx         ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)
    - Chg in NWC    ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)   ($XX)
    = Unlevered FCF $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX    $XXX
  3. Balance Sheet Data (current)

    • Total debt

    • Cash & equivalents

    • Net debt (Debt - Cash)

    • Diluted shares outstanding

  4. Scenario Data

    • Bull case revenue CAGR and terminal margin

    • Base case revenue CAGR and terminal margin

    • Bear case revenue CAGR and terminal margin

Step 2: Build DCF Analysis
A. Calculate WACC

1. Determine Risk-Free Rate

  • Use 10-year Treasury yield (check current rate)

  • Example: 4.0-4.5% as of late 2024

2. Determine Cost of Equity (CAPM)

Cost of Equity = Risk-Free Rate + Beta × Equity Risk Premium

Inputs:
- Risk-Free Rate: [Current 10-year Treasury, e.g., 4.2%]
- Beta: [Company beta from Bloomberg/FactSet or peer average]
- Equity Risk Premium: 5-6% (historical average)

Example:
Cost of Equity = 4.2% + 1.3 × 5.5% = 11.35%

3. Determine Cost of Debt

Cost of Debt = Current borrowing rate or implied yield on bonds

For private companies:
Cost of Debt = Risk-Free Rate + Credit Spread (based on rating)

Example:
Cost of Debt (pre-tax) = 6.5%
Cost of Debt (after-tax) = 6.5% × (1 - 25% tax rate) = 4.875%

4. Determine Capital Structure

Use market values (not book values):

Market Value of Equity (E) = Share Price × Shares Outstanding
Market Value of Debt (D) = Total Debt (use book value if bonds not traded)
Total Value (V) = E + D

Weight of Equity = E / V
Weight of Debt = D / V

Example:
E = $5,000M (90.9%)
D = $500M (9.1%)
V = $5,500M (100%)

5. Calculate WACC

WACC = (E/V × Cost of Equity) + (D/V × Cost of Debt × (1 - Tax Rate))

Example:
WACC = (90.9% × 11.35%) + (9.1% × 6.5% × (1 - 25%))
WACC = 10.32% + 0.44% = 10.76%

Round to: 10.8% for base case
B. Calculate Terminal Value

Method 1: Perpetuity Growth (Preferred)

Terminal Value = FCF(2029) × (1 + g) / (WACC - g)

Where:
- FCF(2029) = Final year unlevered FCF from model
- g = Perpetual growth rate (typically 2.0-3.0%)
  - Should not exceed long-term GDP growth
  - Use 2.5% as base case

Example:
FCF(2029) = $500M
g = 2.5%
WACC = 10.8%

Terminal Value = $500M × (1.025) / (0.108 - 0.025)
Terminal Value = $512.5M / 0.083 = $6,175M

Method 2: Exit Multiple (Alternative)

Terminal Value = EBITDA(2029) × Exit Multiple

Where:
- Exit Multiple = Current peer trading median (e.g., 12-15x EBITDA)

Example:
EBITDA(2029) = $800M
Exit Multiple = 13x

Terminal Value = $800M × 13x = $10,400M

Choose one method or average both.

C. Discount Cash Flows to Present Value
PV of Projected FCF = Σ [FCFt / (1 + WACC)^t] for t = 1 to 5

Example:
Year    FCF      Discount    PV of FCF
        ($M)     Factor      ($M)
2025    $250     1/(1.108)^1 = 0.9026    $226
2026    $320     1/(1.108)^2 = 0.8147    $261
2027    $390     1/(1.108)^3 = 0.7353    $287
2028    $450     1/(1.108)^4 = 0.6636    $299
2029    $500     1/(1.108)^5 = 0.5988    $299
                              Total PV:  $1,372M

PV of Terminal Value = Terminal Value / (1 + WACC)^5
PV of Terminal Value = $6,175M / (1.108)^5 = $6,175M × 0.5988 = $3,697M

Enterprise Value = $1,372M + $3,697M = $5,069M
D. Calculate Equity Value and Price Per Share
Enterprise Value                 $5,069M
- Net Debt (Debt - Cash)         ($450M)
+ Non-operating Assets           $0M
- Minority Interest              $0M
- Preferred Stock                $0M
= Equity Value                   $4,619M

Diluted Shares Outstanding       100M

Price Per Share = $4,619M / 100M = $46.19

Current Stock Price: $42.00
Implied Upside: 10.0%
E. DCF Sensitivity Analysis CRITICAL

Table 1: WACC vs. Terminal Growth Rate

Create 2-way sensitivity table:

Price Per Share ($)     Terminal Growth Rate
WACC        1.5%    2.0%    2.5%    3.0%    3.5%
9.0%        $52     $55     $59     $63     $68
9.5%        $48     $51     $54     $58     $62
10.0%       $45     $48     $51     $54     $57
10.5%       $42     $45     $47     $50     $53
11.0%       $40     $42     $44     $47     $50
11.5%       $38     $40     $42     $44     $47
12.0%       $36     $38     $40     $42     $44

Base Case: WACC = 10.8%, g = 2.5% → $46
Format as heatmap: Green (high values) → Yellow → Red (low values)

Table 2: Revenue CAGR vs. Terminal EBITDA Margin

Price Per Share ($)     Terminal EBITDA Margin (2029E)
Revenue CAGR    28%     30%     32%     34%     36%
15%             $38     $42     $46     $50     $54
20%             $42     $46     $51     $56     $61
25%             $46     $51     $56     $62     $68
30%             $51     $56     $62     $68     $75
35%             $56     $62     $68     $75     $83

Base Case: Rev CAGR = 25%, EBITDA Margin = 32% → $56
Step 3: Comparable Companies Analysis
A. Select Comparable Companies

Selection Criteria:

  • Same industry/sector (primary requirement)

  • Similar business model

  • Comparable size (market cap, revenue)

  • Similar growth profile

  • Similar geographies

Identify 5-10 peer companies:

  1. [Peer 1] - Direct competitor

  2. [Peer 2] - Direct competitor

  3. [Peer 3] - Adjacent player

  4. [Peer 4] - Similar business model

  5. [Peer 5] - Regional competitor

  6. [Add 3-5 more]

Document rationale for each peer selected.

B. Gather Peer Financial Data

For each comparable, gather:

  • Current stock price

  • Shares outstanding (diluted)

  • Market capitalization

  • Total debt and cash (for EV calculation)

  • Enterprise value

  • LTM (Last Twelve Months) financials:

    • Revenue

    • EBITDA

    • EBIT

    • Net Income

  • NTM (Next Twelve Months) consensus estimates

  • Revenue growth rate

  • EBITDA margin

Data sources:

  • FactSet, CapitalIQ, Bloomberg (preferred)

  • Company 10-Ks/10-Qs for actuals

  • Consensus estimates from Yahoo Finance, Seeking Alpha (if pro tools unavailable)

C. Calculate Valuation Multiples

For each peer, calculate:

EV/Revenue (LTM) = Enterprise Value / LTM Revenue
EV/Revenue (NTM) = Enterprise Value / NTM Revenue (est.)
EV/EBITDA (LTM) = Enterprise Value / LTM EBITDA
EV/EBITDA (NTM) = Enterprise Value / NTM EBITDA (est.)
P/E (NTM) = Market Cap / NTM Net Income (est.)
D. Create Comparable Companies Table (MANDATORY FORMAT)
COMPARABLE COMPANIES ANALYSIS

Company      Ticker  Mkt Cap  EV/Rev  EV/Rev  EV/EBITDA  EV/EBITDA  P/E   Rev     EBITDA
                     ($B)     LTM     NTM     LTM        NTM        NTM   Growth  Margin
Peer A       PRA     45.2     3.5x    3.2x    15.2x      13.8x      25x   18%     23%
Peer B       PRB     32.8     3.2x    2.9x    14.1x      12.5x      22x   15%     23%
Peer C       PRC     28.5     2.8x    2.6x    12.8x      11.2x      20x   12%     22%
Peer D       PRD     52.1     4.1x    3.7x    17.5x      15.2x      29x   22%     23%
Peer E       PRE     38.9     3.6x    3.3x    15.8x      14.1x      25x   17%     23%
Peer F       PRF     41.2     3.7x    3.4x    16.1x      13.9x      26x   19%     23%
Peer G       PRG     35.5     3.3x    3.0x    14.5x      12.8x      23x   16%     22%

[Target]     TRGT    38.0     3.4x    3.1x    14.8x      13.0x      24x   17%     23%

STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Maximum              52.1     4.1x    3.7x    17.5x      15.2x      29x   22%     23%
75th Percentile      45.2     3.7x    3.4x    16.1x      14.1x      26x   19%     23%
Median               38.9     3.5x    3.2x    15.2x      13.8x      25x   17%     23%
25th Percentile      32.8     3.2x    2.9x    14.1x      12.5x      22x   15%     22%
Minimum              28.5     2.8x    2.6x    12.8x      11.2x      20x   12%     22%

Note: Market data as of [Date]. LTM = Last Twelve Months. NTM = Next Twelve Months.
Source: FactSet, company filings, [Analyst] estimates.

CRITICAL: The statistical summary (max/75th/median/25th/min) is MANDATORY.

E. Apply Multiples to Target Company

Choose primary multiple (typically EV/EBITDA for mature companies):

Target Company NTM EBITDA = $550M (from financial model)

Apply Median Peer Multiple:
Peer Median EV/EBITDA (NTM) = 13.8x
Implied EV = $550M × 13.8x = $7,590M

Apply 25th Percentile (Conservative):
25th Percentile EV/EBITDA (NTM) = 12.5x
Implied EV = $550M × 12.5x = $6,875M

Apply 75th Percentile (Optimistic):
75th Percentile EV/EBITDA (NTM) = 14.1x
Implied EV = $550M × 14.1x = $7,755M

Valuation Range (Comps): $6,875M - $7,755M
Midpoint: $7,315M

Convert to Equity Value:
Implied EV (Median)        $7,590M
- Net Debt                 ($450M)
= Implied Equity Value     $7,140M

Shares Outstanding         100M
Implied Price/Share        $71.40

Justify Premium/Discount:

  • Target is growing 17% vs. peer median 17% → In-line

  • Target EBITDA margin 23% vs. peer median 23% → In-line

  • Target market position → [Justify premium/discount]

  • Conclusion: Apply median multiple (no adjustment)

Step 4: Precedent Transactions (Optional)

Note: Only if M&A is relevant for this sector/company.

A. Identify Relevant Transactions

Search for 5-10 M&A deals:

  • Same industry, last 3-5 years

  • Similar size (0.5x to 2x target's size)

  • Announced and closed deals

Example:

PRECEDENT TRANSACTIONS ANALYSIS

Date     Target        Acquirer      Deal     EV/Rev  EV/EBITDA  Premium  Rationale
                                    Value($B)  LTM     LTM
Q1 2024  Comp A       Strategic      $5.2B    4.2x    16.5x      35%      Consolidation
Q3 2023  Comp B       PE Firm        $3.8B    3.8x    14.2x      28%      Platform
Q4 2023  Comp C       Strategic      $4.5B    4.0x    15.8x      32%      Geographic
Q2 2023  Comp D       Strategic      $6.1B    4.5x    17.2x      38%      Strategic fit
Q1 2023  Comp E       PE Firm        $3.2B    3.5x    13.5x      25%      Carve-out

Median                                        4.0x    15.8x      32%

Source: CapitalIQ, company filings, press releases.
B. Apply to Target Company
Target Company LTM EBITDA = $500M
Precedent Median EV/EBITDA (LTM) = 15.8x

Implied EV (Precedent) = $500M × 15.8x = $7,900M

Note: Precedent multiples typically 10-20% higher than trading comps
due to control premium and synergies.
Step 5: Valuation Reconciliation
A. Create Valuation Summary Table
VALUATION SUMMARY

Method                  Low     Base    High    Weight  Weighted Value
DCF Analysis            $42     $46     $51     50%     $23.00
Trading Comps (NTM)     $64     $71     $78     40%     $28.40
Precedent Trans.        $70     $79     $88     10%     $7.90
                                                        -------
Weighted Average Target                         100%    $59.30

Rounded Price Target: $59.00

Current Price (as of [Date]):    $42.00
Upside to Target:                40% ($59.00 / $42.00 - 1)
B. Determine Weighting Rationale

Typical Weighting:

  • DCF: 40-60% (higher when forecasts reliable)

  • Trading Comps: 25-40% (reflects market sentiment)

  • Precedent Trans: 10-25% (lower unless M&A likely)

For this example:

  • DCF 50%: High confidence in projections

  • Comps 40%: Robust peer set

  • Precedent 10%: M&A unlikely near-term

C. Create Valuation Football Field Chart
VALUATION FOOTBALL FIELD

Method                  Low ◄────────── Range ──────────► High

DCF Analysis            $42 ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ $51

Trading Comps (NTM)     $64 ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ $78

Precedent Trans.        $70 ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ $88
                                          ↑
                                    Current: $42
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Valuation Range         $42                          $88
Price Target: $59 (weighted average)

Color code:
- DCF: Blue
- Trading Comps: Green
- Precedent Trans: Orange
- Vertical line at current price: Red dashed
- Vertical line at target: Black solid
D. Scenario-Based Valuations
VALUATION BY SCENARIO

Scenario    Probability  Revenue  EBITDA    DCF      Comps    Weighted
                        CAGR     Margin    Value    Multiple  Avg
Bear Case   20%         18%      28%       $38      11.5x     $42
Base Case   60%         25%      32%       $46      13.8x     $59
Bull Case   20%         32%      36%       $58      16.0x     $82

Expected Value (probability-weighted): $59
Step 6: Final Price Target & Recommendation
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Current Price:          $42.00 (as of [Date])
Price Target:           $59.00 (12-month)
Upside/(Downside):      +40.5%

Rating:                 BUY / OUTPERFORM

Valuation Methodology:  Based on weighted average of DCF (50%),
                       trading comparables (40%), and precedent
                       transactions (10%).

Time Horizon:          12 months

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
KEY INVESTMENT CATALYSTS
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

1. New Product Launch (Q2 2025)
   - Expected to drive 15-20% revenue acceleration
   - Already seeing strong pre-orders

2. Margin Expansion (FY2025-2026)
   - Operating leverage from scale
   - Path to 35% EBITDA margin (from current 28%)

3. Market Share Gains (Ongoing)
   - Taking share from legacy competitors
   - Net Promoter Score improvement

4. International Expansion (H2 2025)
   - Entry into European markets
   - Potential $200M incremental revenue opportunity

5. Potential M&A Target (12-18 months)
   - Strategic fit for larger players
   - Precedent transactions suggest 30-40% premium

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
KEY RISKS TO PRICE TARGET
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Downside Risks:
1. Competitive Pressure (High probability, -15% impact)
   - New entrant launched competing product
   - Could pressure pricing and market share

2. Execution Risk (Medium probability, -10% impact)
   - New product launch delays or underperformance
   - Management turnover

3. Macro Slowdown (Medium probability, -20% impact)
   - Economic recession would impact customer spending
   - Operating leverage would reverse

4. Regulatory Risk (Low probability, -25% impact)
   - Potential new regulations in key market
   - Would increase compliance costs

Upside Risks:
1. M&A Bid (Low probability, +35% impact)
   - Strategic acquirer pays control premium

2. Beat-and-Raise (Medium probability, +10% impact)
   - Consistent outperformance vs. estimates

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Quality Standards

DCF Quality Checks
  • [ ] WACC properly calculated with documented components

  • [ ] Terminal value reasonable (< 70% of total enterprise value)

  • [ ] Sensitivity analysis covers realistic ranges (±200-300bps for WACC, ±100bps for terminal growth)

  • [ ] Unlevered FCF properly calculated from EBIT

  • [ ] Enterprise to equity value bridge correct

  • [ ] Share count is diluted shares, not basic

Comparables Quality Checks
  • [ ] 5-10 comparable companies selected

  • [ ] Peer selection defensible (document why each peer was chosen)

  • [ ] Statistical summary included (max/75th/median/25th/min) - MANDATORY

  • [ ] Multiple selection appropriate (EV/EBITDA for mature, EV/Revenue for high-growth)

  • [ ] Premium/discount justified with specific factors

  • [ ] Data sourced properly with dates noted

Overall Valuation Quality Checks
  • [ ] At least 2 valuation methods used (DCF + Comps minimum)

  • [ ] Weighting explained and appropriate

  • [ ] Valuation range provided (low/base/high), not just point estimate

  • [ ] Scenarios analyzed (Bull/Base/Bear)

  • [ ] Sanity checks performed (see below)

  • [ ] All assumptions documented with rationale


Sanity Checks

Always perform these validation checks:

  1. Historical Multiple Check

    • Is implied multiple in line with company's historical trading range?

    • If not, explain why

  2. Peer Comparison

    • Is premium/discount vs. peers justified by fundamentals?

    • Check: growth, margins, market position

  3. Implied Growth Check

    • What growth is market pricing in at current price?

    • Is that reasonable given company trajectory?

  4. Market Cap Reasonableness

    • Does total market cap make sense given company size and peers?

    • Would company be too large/small relative to industry?

  5. Terminal Value Check

    • Is terminal value < 60-70% of total enterprise value?

    • If > 70%, projections may not be long enough

  6. WACC Reasonableness

    • Is WACC 8-14% range for typical companies?

    • Tech/high-growth: 10-14%

    • Mature/stable: 7-10%

  7. Implied Returns Check

    • What IRR from current price to target over 12 months?

    • Is that consistent with recommendation rating?


Output Files

Create the following deliverables:

1. Valuation Analysis Document

File: [Company]_Valuation_Analysis_[Date].md (written analysis)

Contents (4-6 pages):

  • Executive summary with price target

  • DCF analysis (1 page) with sensitivity table

  • Comparable companies analysis (1 page) with statistical summary

  • Precedent transactions (0.5 page) if applicable

  • Valuation summary and football field (0.5 page)

  • Investment recommendation (1 page)

  • Key catalysts and risks (1 page)

2. Excel Valuation Tabs

Add to Task 2's financial model file: [Company]_Financial_Model_[Date].xlsx

IMPORTANT: Do NOT create a separate Excel file. Add these tabs to the existing financial model from Task 2. This keeps all quantitative data in one place.

Tabs to add:

  • DCF tab with full calculations

  • Sensitivity analysis tab

  • Comps tab with peer data

  • Precedent transactions tab (if applicable)

  • Valuation summary tab


Success Criteria

A successful valuation analysis should:

  1. Use at least 2 methods (DCF + Comps minimum)

  2. Include comprehensive DCF sensitivity analysis (2-way tables)

  3. Include statistical summary in comps (max/75th/median/25th/min)

  4. Provide valuation range (low/base/high), not point estimate

  5. Document all key assumptions with clear rationale

  6. Perform sanity checks

  7. Arrive at defensible price target

  8. Provide clear buy/hold/sell recommendation

  9. Identify 3-5 key catalysts

  10. Identify 3-5 key risks

  11. Be auditable and transparent


Next Steps

After completing Task 3, the valuation analysis will be used for:

  • Task 4 (Charts): Create DCF sensitivity heatmaps, valuation football field, scenario comparison charts

  • Task 5 (Report Assembly): Integrate valuation analysis into final report

The price target and recommendation are the foundation of the final investment recommendation in the equity research report.

Requirements and compatibility

Written for: Claude Code, Claude apps

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Names Claude Code tools

Security

What our scanner noticed· Low risk

  • Instructions that use the network

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

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  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
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The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download initiating-coverage.zip