What is FCN's Intrinsic value?

FTI Consulting Inc (FCN) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 22, 2025, FTI Consulting Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $71.63 to $278.95 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $278.95 +75.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $206.62 +30.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $117.71 -25.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $71.63 -54.9%
Earnings Power Value $119.48 -24.7%

Is FTI Consulting Inc (FCN) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $158.77, the stock appears to be moderately 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 FTI Consulting 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 1.06 1.19
Cost of equity 8.8% 11.5%
Cost of debt 4.5% 4.5%
Tax rate 20.6% 21.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 1 1
After-tax WACC 6.1% 7.5%

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: 6.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $3,699 (FY12-2024) to $6,758 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 8% to 13%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $207 $7,094M 78.8%
10-Year Growth $279 $9,574M 64.0%
5-Year EBITDA $221 $7,586M 80.2%
10-Year EBITDA $291 $10,000M 65.6%

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: 10.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0%
  • Fair value: $117.71 (-25.9% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 11.5% (Low) to 8.8% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5% (Low) to 1.5% (High)
  • Fair value range: $49 to $95
  • Selected fair value: $71.63 (-54.9% 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 $278M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.5% - 6.1%
Enterprise Value $3,688M - $4,524M
Net Debt $9M
Equity Value $3,679M - $4,515M
Outstanding Shares 34M
Fair Value $107 - $132
Selected Fair Value $119.48

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $5444M
Enterprise Value $5453M
Trailing P/E 20.78
Forward P/E 16.93
Trailing EV/EBITDA 11.30
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.03

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% $83.69
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $51.66
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $23.54
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $10.74
Earnings Power Value 10% $11.95
Weighted Average 100% $181.58

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, FTI Consulting Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $181.58, which is approximately 14.4% above the current market price of $158.77.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (8% to 13% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.03)

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