Academic theory, however, is extremely useful in identifying value-creating strategies. Economic value of expected future cash flows discounted at a rate consistent with the risk of those cash flows. Considerable care must be given to the estimation of cash flows and discount rate ( a review of discounted-cash-flow[DFC] valuation is beyond the scope of this note.)Theory suggests that leverage can create value through the benefits of debt-tax shields and can destroy value through the costs of financial distress. The balance of these costs and benefits depends on specific capital-market conditions, which are conveyed by the debt and equity costs that capital providers impose on the firm. Academic theory’s bottom line is: An efficient (i.e., value-optimizing) financial structure is one that simultaneously minimizes the weighted-average cost of capital and maximizes the share price and value of the enterprise