Background: In recent years, a record amount of people has turned towards various stock markets to invest in the boom that has been present since the financial crisis. To get the portfolio to be profitable or even more profitable than the market, is a goal that can be hard to achieve, where certain previous research proves that it is possible to outperform the market, while other research proves the opposite. A factor that refutes the individual’s ability to outperform the market is the human beings’ psychological behavior, which can cause irrational investment decisions. To circumvent the psychology behind investment decisions,several investment strategies have been formed throughout history, one of them being a multiple-strategy. Due to the rise in popularity of investing, it is of interest to analyze whether a multiple-strategy is successful in creating profitability.  Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze the multiples EV/S and EV/EBITDA as a multiple-strategy to observe which one generates the highest return for the companies on OMX Stockholm.  Methodology: With the aim of best achieving the purpose of the study, a quantitative method has been used with a deductive approach. With a selection of 251 companies through the period 2010-2019, eight portfolios have been created containing the 20 highest respectively the 20 lowest EV/S- or EV/EBITDA-multiples, with a holding period of either three or twelve months.  Results: The study shows that high EV/S- and EV/EBITDA-multiples as well as low EV/EBITDA-multiples successfully outperform the comparing index over a nine-year period. Low EV/S-multiples do not achieve the same performance. The portfolio with highEV/EBITDA-multiples with a holding period of three months yielded the highest return.

Abstract Background: The popularity of stocks in Sweden is high and with the prevailing low interest climate investors must invest in stocks to earn return on their investment. Achieving a higher return than the market has been a continuous struggle for professional as well as private investors. Having an investment strategy is of great importance because it helps the investor make rational decisions, avoid psychological traps, and prevents them from losing out on possible return. Investing in securities with different characteristics diversifies the portfolio and reduces the total risk taken. Therefore, an interest among investors in examining whether multiple valuation is a fitting investment strategy should exist. Further to examine if there are any multiples that are especially suited for specific branches. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze which multiple of P/E, P/BV, EV/S and EV/EBITDA generates the highest risk-adjusted return through relative valuation within six branches on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The study also aims to analyze whether high or low multiples generates the highest risk adjusted return in a Bull Market and try to explain why. Method: Too achieve the purpose, a quantitative study with an abductive approach has been used. An analysis of historical stock prices and multiples has been made. A total of 48 portfolios have been constructed including high respectively low P/E, P/BV, EV/S and EV/EBITDA multiples. The portfolios have been weighted on a yearly basis and afterwards compared with several risk-adjustment tools. The risk-adjusted return has thereafter been compared to a general index too make it possible to draw conclusions. Result: The result implies that it is statistically assured that investors can achieve a higher return than index by using multiple valuation as an investment strategy in four out of six examined branches. A difference in return among the branches and portfolios can be concluded and there were in total 18 out of 48 portfolios that showed a higher risk-adjusted return in which twelve were statistically assured. statistically assured higher return than the chosen index. Keywords: Multiple Valuation, Relative Valuation, Branches, P/E, P/BV, EV/S, EV/EBITDA, Stock Market Psychology, Bull Market.

Background: In recent years, the interest in investing has increased, and a growing number of people want to put their money into assets that are expected to increase in value. This is usually easier said than done, and it requires the investor to use a solid strategy. Because there are many methods of making an investment decision, this process can appear to be complicated. Multiple strategy is a well-known type of strategy that aims to build a portfolio based on different multiples. As a result, it is interesting to analyze what types of multiples perform best and worst when using a multiple strategy.  Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze the multiples EV/S, EV/EBITDA and P/E as a basis for a multiple strategy for companies found in the index S&P 500 to see if these can generate excess returns.  Methodology: A quantitative method with a deductive approach was best suited to fulfill the purpose of the study. Based on a selection of 411 companies through the period 2003 – 2021 twelve portfolios have been created with the 20 highest and lowest EV/S, EV/EBITDA or P/E multiples, with holding periods of either three or twelve months before rebalancing.  Results: The study results show that all multiples managed to outperform the benchmark index over the study period. Six out of the twelve portfolios were also able to show a significant return. The portfolio with low EV/S multiples and 12-month holding period generated the highest risk-adjusted return. / Bakgrund: På senare år har investerarintresset ökat och allt fler vill in och placera sitt kapital i tillgångar som förväntas öka i värde. Detta är något som oftast är lättare sagt än gjort och det krävs att investeraren använder sig av en tydlig strategi. Att det finns många olika sätt att komma fram till ett investeringsbeslut gör att denna process kan uppfattas som mycket komplicerad. En känd typ av strategi är multipelstrategi, som ämnar att bygga portföljen utifrån bolagens olika multiplar. Vilket gör det intressant att analysera vilka typer av multiplar som fungerar bättre respektive sämre vid användning av en multipelstrategi. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att analysera multiplarna EV/S, EV/EBITDA och P/E som grund till en multipelstrategi för bolag som återfinns i indexet S&P 500 för att se om dessa kan generera överavkastning. Metod: En kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats var bäst lämpad för att uppnå studiens syfte. Utifrån ett urval av 411 bolag under perioden 2003 – 2021 har 12 portföljer skapats med de 20 högsta respektive lägsta EV/S-, EV/EBITDA- och P/E-multiplarna med innehavsperioder på antingen 3 eller 12 månader innan rebalansering. Resultat: Studiens resultat visar på att samtliga multiplar lyckades överavkasta jämförelseindexet över studiens period. 6 av 12 portföljer visade på en statistiskt signifikant avkastning. Portföljen med låga EV/S-multiplar och 12 månaders innehavsperiod genererade högst riskjusterad avkastning.

Bakgrund: De senaste åren har svenska privatpersoner aktiehandel ökat markant. Det låga ränteläget tillsammans med lägre entrébarriärer har resulterat i att ett stadigt inflöde av nya användare har tillkommit till plattformar för aktiehandel. Det är dock ingen lätt uppgift att skapa överavkastning. Föreliggande studie ämnar undersöka om det med hjälp av relativvärdering kan skapas en strategi som konsekvent kan skapa en riskjusterad överavkastning. Studien har valt att fokusera på den nordiska verkstadsindustrin, som historiskt har gett en stabil avkastning och innehåller flera väletablerade företag. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att analysera om man med hjälp av nyckeltalen P/E, EV/EBITDA, P/B, EV/S och förändring av Cash Conversion Cycle kan skapa riskjusterad avkastning på nordiska verkstadsföretag som är högre än jämförelseindex under perioden 2012–2022. Metod: För att uppfylla studiens syfte har en kvantitativ studie med en deduktiv ansats använts. Ett urval ur Nasdaqs listade industriaktier med rensade från producerande och finansiella företag har använts för att skapa portföljer baserade på P/E, P/B, EV/S, EV/EBITDA och ΔCCC. Totalt 10 portföljer skapades, 5 baserade låga respektive 5 på höga nyckeltal. Portföljerna har sedan ombalanserats årligen, den observerade avkastningen har sedan riskjusterats och satts emot ett jämförelseindex. Resultat: Höga EV/EBITDA-, höga EV/S-, låga EV/EBITDA-, låga EV/EBITDA- och störst negativ ΔCCC-portföljerna presterade överavkastning under den aktuella perioden mellan 2012–2022 för verkstadsföretag i Norden. Portföljen som bestod av höga EV/EBITDA-aktier skapade högst riskjusterad avkastning. Totalt presterade 50% av portföljerna högre riskjusterad avkastning än jämförelseindex. Ingen av de överpresterande portföljerna visade sig vara signifikanta. / Background: In recent years, Swedish private equity trading has increased markedly. The low interest rate in addition to fewer entry barriers have resulted in a steady influx of new users of stock trading platforms. However, creating excess returns is no easy task. This study intends to investigate whether, with the help of relative valuation, a strategy can be created that can consistently create a risk-adjusted excess return. The study has chosen to focus on the Nordic manufacturing companies, which has historically provided a stable return and includes several well-established companies. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze whether the key figures P/E, EV/EBITDA, P/B, EV/S and Changes in Cash Conversion Cycle can create a risk adjusted return on Nordic manufacturing companies that is higher than the comparable stock index during the period 2012–2022. Method: To fulfill the purpose of the study, a quantitative study with a deductive approach has been used. A sample of Nasdaq listed industrial shares cleared of non-producing and financial companies has been used to create portfolios based on P/E, P/B, EV/S, EV/EBITDA and ΔCCC. A total of 10 portfolios were created, 5 based on low and 5 on high key figures. The portfolios have since been rebalanced annually, the observed return has since been risk adjusted and compared against a comparable index. Result: High EV/EBITDA-, high EV/S-, low EV/EBITDA-, low EV/EBITDA- and the largest negative ΔCCC portfolios achieved excess returns during the period between 2012–2022 for manufacturing companies in the Nordic countries. The portfolio consisting of high EV/EBITDA stocks created the highest risk-adjusted return. In total, 50% of the portfolios performed higher risk adjusted return than the benchmark index. None of the overperforming portfolios proved to be significant.

本研究之主要目的是想了解當台灣之電子公司，在面臨到企業價值與銷售額比(EV/Sales)為近三年最低點時，如果採用EV/Sales 做為選股依據，持有一年或是二年，其超額報酬為何。是否有關鍵因子可以加強選股績效，資料分為樣本內(1995Q1 - 2002Q4) 和樣本外(2003Q1 - 2006Q4)。其實証結論如下: • 實證上於樣本外公司之中，若使用EV/Sales為選股依據，組成對沖投資組合，持有期間為一年，其平均超額報酬績效為51%。 • 實證上於樣本外公司之中，使用EV/Sales為選股依據組成對沖投資組合，持有期間為二年，其平均超額報酬績效為13%。若用關鍵因子加上EV/Sales為選股依據，持有期間為二年，其平均超額報酬績效大為32%，表示關鍵因子在投資期限較長之交易策略下，確實具有提升EV/Sales之選股能力。 • 本研究透過ANOVA檢定和相關性檢定，找出選股的關鍵因子，為投入資本報酬率，EBITDA利潤率，毛利率，以及營業利潤率。 / The purpose of this paper is to study the List high-tech Companies in Taiwan, when their EV/Sales ratio become the lowest in recent 3 years, whether if EV/Sales is a good tool to identify the companies are a super stock or not. Or, we should use other financial ratios as auxiliary tool to enhance the effective of screening tool, increasing the return of investment performance. The results are summary as below: • In the out-of-sample companies, if we use the EV/Sales as screening tool, the top 10% to composite as short portfolio, and bottom 10% to composite long portfolio, the holding period is one year; annualized abnormal return is 51%. • In the out-of-sample companies, if we use the EV/Sales as screening tool, the top 10% to composite as short portfolio, and bottom 10% to composite long portfolio, the holding period is two year, annualized return is 13%. If we add the auxiliary key financial ratios, the annualized abnormal return is 32%. • We use the ANOVA and correlation analysis, to identify the key financial ratios to enhanced investment return is Gross margin, EBITDA margin, operating margin, and ROIC.

Bakgrund: För att relativvärderingar inte skall bli missvisande sätts krav på att de jämförda bolagen faktiskt är tillräckligt lika för att tillåta en jämförelse. I praktiken väljs generellt bolag inom samma bransch, medan teorin förespråkar för att skillnader i finansiella variabler som bland annat tillväxt och risk måste kontrolleras för. Tidigare forskning har oftast endast studerat hur de finansiella variablerna påverkar multipelvärdet. Relativvärdering påverkas dock även av pågående marknadstrender, förutsatt att dessa trender influerar börsvärdet. Andra variabler än branschtillhörighet och finansiella sådana kan således påverka värdet och därmed även behöva kontrolleras för, innan en relativvärdering utförs. Hållbarhetsarbete är en sådan trend som vuxit sig väldigt stark på senare tid. Hållbarhetsarbete i allmänhet och ESG-betyg i synnerhet är områden som ännu inte är helt kartlagda, speciellt vad gäller deras påverkan på ett företags värdering. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att analysera om det föreligger några samband mellan ESG-betyg och multipelvärden samt hur dessa samband i så fall ser ut och varför, för svenska stora och medelstora bolag listade på Nasdaq Stockholm Large och Mid Cap. Metod: Studien har utförts med en kvantitativ strategi, där samband mellan ESG-betyg och multipelvärden undersökts för årsskiftet 2020/2021, genom multipla regressionsanalyser. Totalt 151 svenska bolag med erhållna ESG-betyg har analyserats genom att deras multipelvärden för fyra olika multiplar använts som beroende variabler, samt där ESG-betyg och ett antal finansiella kontrollvariabler utgjort oberoende variabler i regressionerna. Underlaget till studien har utgjorts av data från databasen Refinitiv samt årsredovisningar. Slutsats: Resultatet visar att ett statistiskt signifikant negativt samband föreligger mellan ESG-betyg och multipelvärden. Att lägre betyg går hand i hand med högre värdering och vice versa, är fallet genomgående för såväl Mid Cap som Large Cap. / Background: In order for relative valuation not to be misleading, it is required that the companies compared are in fact sufficiently equal to allow a comparison. In practice, these companies are generally chosen within the same industry, while theory advocates that differences in financial variables such as growth and risk are more important and must be controlled for. Previous research has mostly only studied how these financial variables affect the value of multiples. However, relative valuation is also affected by ongoing market trends, provided that these trends influence market value. Variables other than financial ones and industry affiliation may thus affect the value and have to be controlled for, before a relative valuation using multiples is performed. Sustainability is one such trend that has grown tremendously strong in recent times. Sustainability work in general and ESG scores in particular are areas that have not yet been fully mapped, especially in terms of their impact on a company’s valuation. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze potential relationships between ESG scores and values of multiples, how these relationships look and why, for large and medium-large Swedish companies listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Large and Mid Cap lists. Methodology: A quantitative approach was used for the study, where the relationship between ESG scores and values of multiples was examined for the turn of the year 2020/2021, through multiple regression analyzes. A total of 151 Swedish companies, with published ESG scores, were analyzed using their multiples’ values for four different multiples as dependent variables in the regressions. ESG scores and a number of financial control variables constituted the independent variables in said regressions. The basis for the study has consisted of data from the Refinitiv database and annual reports. Conclusions: The results show that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between ESG scores and the values of multiples. The fact that lower ESG scores go hand in hand with higher valuations and vice versa, is the case throughout for both Mid Cap as well as Large Cap.