What is EL's Intrinsic value?

Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 13, 2025, Estee Lauder Companies Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $28.12 to $73.43 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $73.43 +4.9%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $69.12 -1.2%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $41.47 -40.7%
Earnings Power Value $28.12 -59.8%

Is Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $69.99, the stock appears to be moderately 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 Estee Lauder Companies 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 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.75 0.88
Cost of equity 7.3% 9.8%
Cost of debt 4.0% 5.6%
Tax rate 24.9% 30.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.32 0.32
After-tax WACC 6.3% 8.4%

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: 7.3% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $15,609 (FY06-2024) to $18,942 (FY06-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 3% to 9%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 8% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $69 $29,538M 83.0%
10-Year Growth $73 $31,088M 67.6%
5-Year EBITDA $41 $19,566M 74.3%
10-Year EBITDA $51 $22,839M 55.9%

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: 8.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $41.47 (-40.7% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.8% (Low) to 7.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $(22) to $(66)
  • Selected fair value: $-43.71 (-162.4% 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 $1,062M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.4% - 6.3%
Enterprise Value $12,672M - $16,902M
Net Debt $4,670M
Equity Value $8,002M - $12,232M
Outstanding Shares 360M
Fair Value $22 - $34
Selected Fair Value $28.12

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $25179M
Enterprise Value $29849M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 37.65
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.25
Current Dividend Yield 296.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 17.14%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.32

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% $22.03
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 29% $17.28
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 24% $8.29
Earnings Power Value 12% $2.81
Weighted Average 100% $59.32

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Estee Lauder Companies Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $59.32, which is approximately 15.3% below the current market price of $69.99.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (3% to 9% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 17.14%

Given these factors, we believe Estee Lauder Companies Inc is currently moderately overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.