Run-rate Explained: Meaning, Types, Process, and Use Cases
Run-rate is one of the most used—and most misunderstood—terms in corporate finance, valuation, and deal analysis. At its core, it means taking a current level of performance, such as revenue, EBITDA, expenses, or synergies, and annualizing it as if that pace continues. Used correctly, run-rate helps managers plan, analysts value businesses, and lenders underwrite debt; used carelessly, it can make an ordinary business look far better than it really is.