Business Valuation: Down with DCF?

Among the business valuation methods, the discounted cash flow (DCF) method has gotten a bad rap. At best, it is criticised for being based on sand, i.e. based on forecast data that are uncertain in principle. At worst, it is suspected of serving the desired result by adjusting one or the other components of the method, namely future cash flows and discount rates. In short, the DCF method is inherently subjective and easily manipulated.