What is HSL.L's Intrinsic value?

Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC (HSL.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 12, 2025, Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $1036.87 to $1551.70 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $1551.70 +80.4%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $1448.05 +68.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $1036.87 +20.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $1322.81 +53.8%

Is Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC (HSL.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $860.00, 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 Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust 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

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 1.04 1.17
Cost of equity 10.2% 13.2%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.6%
Tax rate 0.0% 0.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.18 0.18
After-tax WACC 9.2% 11.8%

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: 10.5% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $100 (FY05-2024) to $130 (FY05-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 93% to 93%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 0% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $1,448 $1,055M 64.1%
10-Year Growth $1,552 $1,124M 40.7%
5-Year EBITDA $1,036 $778M 51.4%
10-Year EBITDA $1,273 $937M 28.8%

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: 17.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 11.7%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $1036.87 (20.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 13.2% (Low) to 10.2% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $933 to $1,713
  • Selected fair value: $1322.81 (53.8% from current price)

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $577M
Enterprise Value $660M
Trailing P/E 4.91
Forward P/E 5.90
Trailing EV/EBITDA 5.90
Current Dividend Yield 348.84%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 3.05%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.18

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) 33% $465.51
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 28% $362.01
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 22% $207.37
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 17% $198.42
Weighted Average 100% $1370.36

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $1370.36, which is approximately 59.3% above the current market price of $860.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (93% to 93% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.18)
  • Historical dividend growth of 3.05%

Given these factors, we believe Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC is currently significantly undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.