Data Update 1 for 2024: The data speaks, but what does it say?

In 1993, the author realized the value of industry-level data for business valuations. Initially shared with students, the data analysis has expanded over the years to include over 200 variables for 47,698 publicly traded companies worldwide. The data is categorized by geography and industry, providing insights into various aspects of corporate finance, including investing, financing, and dividend decisions. Key variables include hurdle rates, project returns, financing mix, financing type, and dividend yield. The data also incorporates valuation and pricing metrics, such as historical growth rates, profitability margins, and multiples. Despite potential data biases, the author maintains a micro-focus, providing industry averages to facilitate peer group comparisons for analysts. The industry groupings were carefully crafted to be intuitive and balanced, resulting in 95 categories. Data currency is prioritized, with market data reflecting the most recent year-end values and accounting data based on the latest quarterly accounts available.