Why are median multiples preferred over average multiples when evaluating companies?

Median multiples are preferred over average multiples primarily because they are less influenced by outliers. In a dataset where a few companies have significantly higher or lower valuations (for example, due to size or market volatility), the average can be disproportionately affected by these extreme values. This, in turn, can lead to a misleading picture of the valuation multiple for the entire group.

By contrast, the median provides a more robust measure of central tendency because it represents the middle value of the sorted data set. This means that regardless of how high or low a few specific multiples might be, the median will remain stable and provide a better reflection of what is typical for the companies being evaluated. This characteristic makes median multiples a more reliable choice for valuation comparisons in financial analysis.