What is BUR.L's Intrinsic value?

Burford Capital Ltd (BUR.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 29, 2025, Burford Capital Ltd's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $397.42 to $1997.88 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $1997.88 +105.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $1828.39 +87.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $799.97 -17.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $397.42 -59.2%
Earnings Power Value $1272.65 +30.6%

Is Burford Capital Ltd (BUR.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $974.50, 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 Burford Capital Ltd'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 0.88 0.98
Cost of equity 9.3% 11.8%
Cost of debt 5.0% 5.0%
Tax rate 10.1% 11.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.6 0.6
After-tax WACC 7.5% 9.1%

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: 8.3% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $546 (FY12-2024) to $976 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 42% to 42%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 0% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $2,475 $6,961M 68.9%
10-Year Growth $2,705 $7,486M 48.7%
5-Year EBITDA $1,863 $5,558M 61.0%
10-Year EBITDA $2,239 $6,420M 40.2%

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: 18.7%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 10.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $799.97 (-17.9% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 11.8% (Low) to 9.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $378 to $698
  • Selected fair value: $397.42 (-59.2% 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 $429M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.1% - 7.5%
Enterprise Value $4,735M - $5,742M
Net Debt $1,294M
Equity Value $3,441M - $4,449M
Outstanding Shares 2M
Fair Value $1,503 - $1,943
Selected Fair Value $1272.65

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $2231M
Enterprise Value $3187M
Trailing P/E 20.62
Forward P/E 9.97
Trailing EV/EBITDA 8.50
Current Dividend Yield 92.03%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -0.83%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.60

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% $599.36
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $457.10
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $159.99
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $59.61
Earnings Power Value 10% $127.26
Weighted Average 100% $1403.33

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Burford Capital Ltd's weighted average intrinsic value is $1403.33, which is approximately 44.0% above the current market price of $974.50.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (42% to 42% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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