What is HOTC.L's Intrinsic value?

Hotel Chocolat Group PLC (HOTC.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, Hotel Chocolat Group PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $152.55 to $339.05 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $339.05 -9.3%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $159.59 -57.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $152.55 -59.2%
Earnings Power Value $261.83 -30.0%

Is Hotel Chocolat Group PLC (HOTC.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $374.00, 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 Hotel Chocolat Group 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 0.39 0.51
Cost of equity 6.3% 8.5%
Cost of debt 7.0% 7.0%
Tax rate 9.4% 14.9%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.09 0.09
After-tax WACC 6.3% 8.3%

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

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $204 (FY07-2023) to $435 (FY07-2033)
  • Net profit margin expansion from -3% to 7%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 9% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $160 $256M 89.2%
10-Year Growth $339 $503M 81.0%
5-Year EBITDA $176 $279M 90.1%
10-Year EBITDA $280 $422M 77.3%

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: 7.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 4.0%
  • Fair value: $152.55 (-59.2% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.5% (Low) to 6.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 5.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $(57) to $(310)
  • Selected fair value: $-183.42 (-149.0% 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 $29M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.3% - 6.3%
Enterprise Value $343M - $451M
Net Debt $37M
Equity Value $306M - $414M
Outstanding Shares 1M
Fair Value $223 - $301
Selected Fair Value $261.83

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $515M
Enterprise Value $551M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 0.00
Trailing EV/EBITDA 9.60
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% $101.71
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 29% $39.90
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 24% $30.51
Earnings Power Value 12% $26.18
Weighted Average 100% $233.30

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Hotel Chocolat Group PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $233.30, which is approximately 37.6% below the current market price of $374.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (-3% to 7% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.09)

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