What is APA's Intrinsic value?

APA Corp (US) (APA) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, APA Corp (US)'s estimated intrinsic value ranges from $20.04 to $120.62 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $38.10 +128.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $36.06 +115.8%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $20.04 +19.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $21.57 +29.1%
Earnings Power Value $120.62 +621.9%

Is APA Corp (US) (APA) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $16.71, 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 APA Corp (US)'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 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 1.35 1.46
Cost of equity 10.1% 13.0%
Cost of debt 4.8% 5.6%
Tax rate 20.8% 27.8%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.95 0.95
After-tax WACC 7.0% 8.7%

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: 7.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $9,737 (FY12-2024) to $11,645 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 11% to 11%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 25% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $36 $18,341M 69.4%
10-Year Growth $38 $19,080M 49.6%
5-Year EBITDA $29 $15,910M 64.7%
10-Year EBITDA $35 $17,952M 46.4%

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: 36.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 11.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $20.04 (19.9% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 13.0% (Low) to 10.1% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $15 to $28
  • Selected fair value: $21.57 (29.1% 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 $3,789M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.7% - 7.0%
Enterprise Value $43,748M - $54,102M
Net Debt $5,301M
Equity Value $38,447M - $48,801M
Outstanding Shares 362M
Fair Value $106 - $135
Selected Fair Value $120.62

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $6043M
Enterprise Value $11344M
Trailing P/E 5.93
Forward P/E 6.33
Trailing EV/EBITDA 3.65
Current Dividend Yield 578.47%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 30.16%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.95

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% $11.43
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $9.01
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $4.01
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $3.24
Earnings Power Value 10% $12.06
Weighted Average 100% $39.75

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, APA Corp (US)'s weighted average intrinsic value is $39.75, which is approximately 137.9% above the current market price of $16.71.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (11% to 11% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 30.16%

Given these factors, we believe APA Corp (US) is currently significantly undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.