What is AHT.L's Intrinsic value?

Ashtead Group PLC (AHT.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of September 10, 2025, Ashtead Group PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $4508.86 to $17995.24 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $8638.90 +57.8%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $7121.62 +30.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $4508.86 -17.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $4601.41 -15.9%
Earnings Power Value $17995.24 +228.7%

Is Ashtead Group PLC (AHT.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $5474.00, the stock appears to be significantly undervalued.

Understanding Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value represents the "true" worth of a company based on its fundamentals rather than market sentiment. We've employed multiple methodologies to triangulate Ashtead Group PLC's intrinsic value, including:

  1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Values the company based on projected future cash flows
  2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM): Values the company based on expected future dividend payments
  3. Earnings Power Value (EPV): Values the company based on its current earnings power, assuming no growth

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

The cost of capital is a critical factor in valuation models, representing the required return for investors.

WACC Component Low High
Long-term bond rate 4.0% 4.5%
Equity market risk premium 6.0% 7.0%
Adjusted beta 0.43 0.58
Cost of equity 6.6% 9.0%
Cost of debt 4.9% 5.2%
Tax rate 24.7% 25.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.45 0.45
After-tax WACC 5.7% 7.5%

Valuation Methods

1. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation

Our DCF model projects cash flows over 5-year and 10-year horizons, with the following key assumptions:

  • Forecast Period: 5-year DCF and 10-year DCF
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 0.0% (range: 3.0% - 5.0%)
  • Discount Rate: 6.6% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $10,792 (FY04-2025) to $16,808 (FY04-2035)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 14% to 14%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 5% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $7,122 $40,086M 77.1%
10-Year Growth $8,639 $46,439M 61.4%
5-Year EBITDA $3,001 $22,831M 59.8%
10-Year EBITDA $4,824 $30,464M 41.1%

2. Dividend Discount Model (DDM)

The DDM values a company based on its expected future dividend payments. We used two approaches:

Multi-Stage DDM:

  • Current payout ratio: 0.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.8%
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0%
  • Fair value: $4508.86 (-17.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.0% (Low) to 6.6% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5% (Low) to 1.5% (High)
  • Fair value range: $2,903 to $6,299
  • Selected fair value: $4601.41 (-15.9% from current price)

3. Earnings Power Value (EPV)

EPV assesses a company's value based on its current normalized earnings power, assuming no growth.

EPV Component Value
Normalized Earnings $5,515M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.5% - 5.7%
Enterprise Value $74,012M - $97,217M
Net Debt $10,268M
Equity Value $63,745M - $86,949M
Outstanding Shares 4M
Fair Value $15,224 - $20,766
Selected Fair Value $17995.24

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $22920M
Enterprise Value $33187M
Trailing P/E 15.46
Forward P/E 15.03
Trailing EV/EBITDA 5.20
Current Dividend Yield 176.77%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 23.29%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.45

Investment Decision Framework

To determine the most reliable intrinsic value estimate, we weigh each valuation method based on:

  1. Forecast Certainty: DCF methods rely on long-term projections, while earnings power value focuses on current normalized earnings
  2. Business Model Alignment: Dividend models are more appropriate for mature companies with established dividend policies
  3. Historical Accuracy: How well each method has predicted fair value historically

Valuation Weight Matrix

Valuation Method Weight Weighted Value
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) 30% $2591.67
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $1780.40
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $901.77
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $690.21
Earnings Power Value 10% $1799.52
Weighted Average 100% $7763.58

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Ashtead Group PLC's intrinsic value is $7763.58, which is approximately 41.8% above the current market price of $5474.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (14% to 14% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 23.29%

Given these factors, we believe Ashtead Group PLC is currently significantly undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.