What is GFN's Intrinsic value?

General Finance Corp (GFN) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 24, 2025, General Finance Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $4.87 to $14.64 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $13.57 -28.6%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $10.35 -45.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $4.87 -74.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $12.40 -34.8%
Earnings Power Value $14.64 -23.0%

Is General Finance Corp (GFN) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $19.01, 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 General Finance 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 3.2% 3.7%
Equity market risk premium 4.2% 5.2%
Adjusted beta 0.44 0.85
Cost of equity 5.0% 8.6%
Cost of debt 6.9% 8.0%
Tax rate 27.0% 27.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.66 0.66
After-tax WACC 5.0% 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: 6.3% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $356 (FY06-2020) to $468 (FY06-2030)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 2% to 3%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 18% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $10 $669M 78.3%
10-Year Growth $14 $767M 61.4%
5-Year EBITDA $15 $800M 81.8%
10-Year EBITDA $17 $862M 65.7%

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: 14.8%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.8%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $4.87 (-74.4% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.6% (Low) to 5.0% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $7 to $18
  • Selected fair value: $12.40 (-34.8% 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 $48M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.5% - 5.0%
Enterprise Value $642M - $956M
Net Debt $356M
Equity Value $285M - $600M
Outstanding Shares 30M
Fair Value $9 - $20
Selected Fair Value $14.64

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $575M
Enterprise Value $931M
Trailing P/E 23.26
Forward P/E 55.83
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.25
Current Dividend Yield 63.80%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.66

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% $4.07
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $2.59
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $0.97
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $1.86
Earnings Power Value 10% $1.46
Weighted Average 100% $10.96

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, General Finance Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $10.96, which is approximately 42.4% below the current market price of $19.01.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (2% to 3% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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