What is CVS's Intrinsic value?

CVS Health Corp (CVS) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 25, 2025, CVS Health Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $45.58 to $421.88 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $128.21 +110.8%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $107.39 +76.5%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $49.92 -17.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $45.58 -25.1%
Earnings Power Value $421.88 +593.5%

Is CVS Health Corp (CVS) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $60.83, 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 CVS Health Corp'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 0.68 0.99
Cost of equity 7.0% 10.4%
Cost of debt 4.0% 7.0%
Tax rate 25.3% 25.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.86 0.86
After-tax WACC 5.1% 8.0%

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 $372,809 (FY12-2024) to $674,475 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 1% to 1%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 1% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $107 $190,203M 77.1%
10-Year Growth $128 $216,486M 59.8%
5-Year EBITDA $84 $160,625M 72.9%
10-Year EBITDA $114 $198,485M 56.2%

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: 63.9%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.7%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $49.92 (-17.9% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.4% (Low) to 7.0% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $28 to $63
  • Selected fair value: $45.58 (-25.1% 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 $36,688M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.0% - 5.1%
Enterprise Value $459,205M - $715,203M
Net Debt $54,634M
Equity Value $404,571M - $660,569M
Outstanding Shares 1,262M
Fair Value $320 - $523
Selected Fair Value $421.88

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $76791M
Enterprise Value $131425M
Trailing P/E 14.54
Forward P/E 15.66
Trailing EV/EBITDA 9.90
Current Dividend Yield 439.25%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 6.48%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.86

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% $38.46
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $26.85
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $9.98
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $6.84
Earnings Power Value 10% $42.19
Weighted Average 100% $124.32

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, CVS Health Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $124.32, which is approximately 104.4% above the current market price of $60.83.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (1% to 1% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 6.48%

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