FIN 3150
Capital Markets & Financial Management
Students will learn how the decisions of a company affect shareholder value and what decisions can increase it. To understand the perspectives of shareholders, we will study basic principles of investing: time value of money, valuation of debt and equity securities, discounted cash flow as a foundation for stock prices, the impact of diversification and leverage on portfolio risk, the relationship between risk and expected return in securities markets, and capital market efficiency. We will use these principles to analyze capital investment decisions by estimating cash flows and discounting them at the appropriate cost of capital. We will also study how shareholder value is affected by a firm's financing decisions, such as the choice of using debt or equity capital.
Instructors
Aydin, Brett Green, Clayton, Deniz Aydin, Dominique Green, Grant Clayton, Koray Sayili, Sayili
Reviews
2-4 hrs/week
This course is definitely difficult but not impossible. I would pay particular attention to Greens lectures although they’re a little less engaging since he teaches stuff that is more applicable to the exams, whereas Aydin just rambles. The homework’s are easy, the cases are also pretty easy if you have a good group, and exams are difficult. Definitely read the textbook along with practice exams as you need a lot of intuition behind the concepts to be able to apply it on the exams. The final was a lot easier than the two other exams individually.
12/27/2024
4-6 hrs/week
Loved Aydin's lectures although not very applicable. Green just doesn't teach very well. Def just grind through practice tests and use the textbook, or else you'll have a hard time on exams
6/29/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Clayton is a really good professor but the class itself is pretty boring. Easy if you have a strong math background.
6/18/2024
2-4 hrs/week
This is def harder than Sayili, if you can wait till spring to take this class, I would honestly recommend that. Cases are fine, exams were on the harder side. There's weekly online homework that is often long and difficult, but most answered are online.
5/22/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Both (or at least 1) of the tests will be online which is nice. The professor is very passionate and incredibly available. A good class.
5/21/2024
2 or less hrs/week
Both the midterm and final is online, and there are like 3 homework assignments. The tests are pretty hard though, so even though its online you've got to study, but its essentially open everything. The professor cares a lot about you doing well and has plenty of office hours and explains the concepts well.
5/18/2024
Clayton is probably the best professor I've had in Olin. He cares so much about his students and will try to help with anything he can. His lectures can get a bit boring (considering it's a finance class) but he's such a nice guy. He gives lots of handicaps for tests and projects and will try his best to accommodate if something happens.
4/28/2024
One of the best professors I've had at WashU. Extremely caring and kind to his students (and thus not a power-trippy, cold-calling prof like some I've had). Provides ample prep material leading up to exams, and the projects he assigns build real-world skills yet are made easy to follow and complete. Absolutely amazing professor.
4/26/2024
Grant is one of the best professors I have ever had! He is a great teacher, and he cares so much about the students performance and will help above and beyond. Truly a perfect professor. Take Fin 340 with him!
4/22/2024
Fourth year at WashU. He is by far the best lecturer I have had in my WashU career. Engaging and personable with a good sense of humor. Made me excited to go to class
10/4/2023
FIN340 was an absolute nightmare. What Green teaches in class is completely different than the material on the homeworks, and completely different than the material on the final. I constantly had to teach myself new formulas and concepts off the internet. Overall just unhelpful.
12/9/2022
Great guy, understands his students well. Is very young so connects well with current events
5/17/2022
Nice guy, does a lot of discussion of current events as they relate to the class material, which was helpful for learning/putting the class in context. He's good at explaining concepts, too. Homework isn't terribly difficult, exams are definitely on the hard side.
3/12/2021