What is HLF.TO's Intrinsic value?

High Liner Foods Inc (HLF.TO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 23, 2025, High Liner Foods Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $20.33 to $95.83 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $49.99 +178.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $20.33 +13.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $32.47 +80.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $95.83 +433.0%
Earnings Power Value $55.98 +211.4%

Is High Liner Foods Inc (HLF.TO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $17.98, the stock appears to be significantly 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 High Liner Foods 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 3.2% 3.7%
Equity market risk premium 5.1% 6.1%
Adjusted beta 0.49 0.56
Cost of equity 5.7% 7.6%
Cost of debt 5.4% 5.6%
Tax rate 15.7% 18.7%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.67 0.67
After-tax WACC 5.2% 6.4%

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: 5.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,080 (FY12-2023) to $1,544 (FY12-2033)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 3% to 3%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $15 $645M 87.2%
10-Year Growth $36 $1,266M 80.0%
5-Year EBITDA $14 $618M 86.7%
10-Year EBITDA $18 $737M 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: 22.2%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $32.47 (80.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.6% (Low) to 5.7% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $26 to $111
  • Selected fair value: $95.83 (433.0% 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 $80M
Discount Rate (WACC) 6.4% - 5.2%
Enterprise Value $1,254M - $1,528M
Net Debt $219M
Equity Value $1,035M - $1,309M
Outstanding Shares 29M
Fair Value $35 - $45
Selected Fair Value $55.98

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $526M
Enterprise Value $832M
Trailing P/E 6.21
Forward P/E 15.27
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.80
Current Dividend Yield 357.14%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 15.27%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.67

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% $15.00
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $5.08
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $6.49
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $14.38
Earnings Power Value 10% $5.60
Weighted Average 100% $46.55

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, High Liner Foods Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $46.55, which is approximately 158.9% above the current market price of $17.98.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (3% to 3% margin)
  • Historical dividend growth of 15.27%

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