What is FDP.L's Intrinsic value?

First Derivatives PLC (FDP.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, First Derivatives PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $420.62 to $1650.10 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $1650.10 -32.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $1348.12 -44.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $789.01 -67.5%
Earnings Power Value $420.62 -82.7%

Is First Derivatives PLC (FDP.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $2425.00, 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 First Derivatives PLC'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 4.0% 4.5%
Equity market risk premium 6.0% 7.0%
Adjusted beta 0.42 0.69
Cost of equity 6.5% 9.8%
Cost of debt 5.0% 7.0%
Tax rate 24.9% 46.2%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.09 0.09
After-tax WACC 6.3% 9.3%

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: 7.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $249 (FY02-2024) to $228 (FY02-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from -5% to 9%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 8% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $1,348 $329M 83.1%
10-Year Growth $1,650 $396M 71.1%
5-Year EBITDA $953 $241M 76.9%
10-Year EBITDA $1,142 $283M 59.6%

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: 8.2%
  • Long-term growth rate: 4.0%
  • Fair value: $789.01 (-67.5% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.8% (Low) to 6.5% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 5.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $(2,325) to $(13,232)
  • Selected fair value: $-7778.43 (-420.8% 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 $9M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.3% - 6.3%
Enterprise Value $100M - $147M
Net Debt $30M
Equity Value $70M - $117M
Outstanding Shares 0M
Fair Value $314 - $527
Selected Fair Value $420.62

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $538M
Enterprise Value $568M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 0.00
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.20
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -100.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.09

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% $495.03
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 29% $337.03
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 24% $157.80
Earnings Power Value 12% $42.06
Weighted Average 100% $1214.03

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, First Derivatives PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $1214.03, which is approximately 49.9% below the current market price of $2425.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (-5% to 9% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.09)

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