What is DG's Intrinsic value?

Dollar General Corp (DG) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 29, 2025, Dollar General Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $72.10 to $127.72 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $127.72 +30.6%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $112.57 +15.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $99.68 +2.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $79.36 -18.8%
Earnings Power Value $72.10 -26.3%

Is Dollar General Corp (DG) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $97.77, the stock appears to be fairly valued.

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 Dollar General 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 0.58 0.68
Cost of equity 6.5% 8.7%
Cost of debt 4.6% 7.0%
Tax rate 21.8% 21.9%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.28 0.28
After-tax WACC 5.9% 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: 6.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $40,612 (FY01-2025) to $63,829 (FY01-2035)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 3% to 3%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 4% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $113 $30,065M 82.8%
10-Year Growth $128 $33,399M 69.4%
5-Year EBITDA $69 $20,511M 74.8%
10-Year EBITDA $84 $23,891M 57.3%

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: 51.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $99.68 (2.0% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.7% (Low) to 6.5% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $36 to $122
  • Selected fair value: $79.36 (-18.8% 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 $1,436M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.0% - 5.9%
Enterprise Value $17,983M - $24,345M
Net Debt $5,306M
Equity Value $12,678M - $19,039M
Outstanding Shares 220M
Fair Value $58 - $87
Selected Fair Value $72.10

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $21505M
Enterprise Value $26810M
Trailing P/E 28.22
Forward P/E 18.24
Trailing EV/EBITDA 5.85
Current Dividend Yield 174.54%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 9.89%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.28

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% $38.32
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $28.14
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $19.94
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $11.90
Earnings Power Value 10% $7.21
Weighted Average 100% $105.51

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Dollar General Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $105.51, which is approximately 7.9% above the current market price of $97.77.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (3% to 3% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.28)
  • Historical dividend growth of 9.89%

Given these factors, we believe Dollar General Corp is currently fairly valued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.