What is CAS.TO's Intrinsic value?

Cascades Inc (CAS.TO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 10, 2025, Cascades Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $18.70 to $66.73 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $66.73 +634.2%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $50.72 +458.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $18.70 +105.8%
Earnings Power Value $44.50 +389.5%

Is Cascades Inc (CAS.TO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $9.09, 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 Cascades Inc'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 3.2% 3.7%
Equity market risk premium 5.1% 6.1%
Adjusted beta 0.74 0.91
Cost of equity 6.9% 9.7%
Cost of debt 5.0% 5.0%
Tax rate 22.1% 34.2%
Debt/Equity ratio 2.31 2.31
After-tax WACC 4.8% 5.2%

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: 5.0% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $4,701 (FY12-2024) to $6,692 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 0% to 4%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 7% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $51 $7,345M 88.1%
10-Year Growth $67 $8,964M 77.5%
5-Year EBITDA $24 $4,664M 81.2%
10-Year EBITDA $37 $5,988M 66.4%

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: 0.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.3%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $18.70 (105.8% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.7% (Low) to 6.9% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $(0) to $(1)
  • Selected fair value: $-0.61 (-106.7% 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 $336M
Discount Rate (WACC) 5.2% - 4.8%
Enterprise Value $6,443M - $6,989M
Net Debt $2,216M
Equity Value $4,227M - $4,773M
Outstanding Shares 101M
Fair Value $42 - $47
Selected Fair Value $44.50

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $919M
Enterprise Value $3135M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 39.11
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.05
Current Dividend Yield 522.20%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 11.55%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 2.31

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) 35% $20.02
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 29% $12.68
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 24% $3.74
Earnings Power Value 12% $4.45
Weighted Average 100% $48.11

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Cascades Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $48.11, which is approximately 429.2% above the current market price of $9.09.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (0% to 4% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 11.55%

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