What is CW's Intrinsic value?

Curtiss-Wright Corp (CW) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 21, 2025, Curtiss-Wright Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $117.44 to $468.06 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $468.06 +0.3%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $387.99 -16.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $302.02 -35.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $259.91 -44.3%
Earnings Power Value $117.44 -74.8%

Is Curtiss-Wright Corp (CW) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $466.84, the stock appears to be significantly overvalued.

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 Curtiss-Wright 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 0.78 1.03
Cost of equity 7.5% 10.6%
Cost of debt 5.0% 5.0%
Tax rate 23.4% 23.8%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.06 0.06
After-tax WACC 7.3% 10.3%

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: 8.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $3,121 (FY12-2024) to $5,367 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 13% to 26%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $388 $15,355M 81.4%
10-Year Growth $468 $18,373M 66.8%
5-Year EBITDA $522 $20,423M 86.0%
10-Year EBITDA $590 $22,951M 73.4%

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: 9.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 4.0%
  • Fair value: $302.02 (-35.3% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.6% (Low) to 7.5% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 5.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $105 to $415
  • Selected fair value: $259.91 (-44.3% 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 $439M
Discount Rate (WACC) 10.3% - 7.3%
Enterprise Value $4,280M - $6,037M
Net Debt $732M
Equity Value $3,547M - $5,305M
Outstanding Shares 38M
Fair Value $94 - $141
Selected Fair Value $117.44

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $17595M
Enterprise Value $18327M
Trailing P/E 40.94
Forward P/E 34.18
Trailing EV/EBITDA 20.95
Current Dividend Yield 17.64%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 2.93%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.06

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% $140.42
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $97.00
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $60.40
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $38.99
Earnings Power Value 10% $11.74
Weighted Average 100% $348.55

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Curtiss-Wright Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $348.55, which is approximately 25.3% below the current market price of $466.84.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (13% to 26% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.06)
  • Historical dividend growth of 2.93%

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