What is HWG.L's Intrinsic value?

Harworth Group PLC (HWG.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 27, 2025, Harworth Group PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $26.80 to $322.88 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $137.83 -20.6%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $96.63 -44.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $137.63 -20.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $322.88 +86.1%
Earnings Power Value $26.80 -84.6%

Is Harworth Group PLC (HWG.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $173.50, the stock appears to be moderately 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 Harworth 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 0.38 0.49
Cost of equity 6.2% 8.4%
Cost of debt 5.2% 8.4%
Tax rate 20.6% 23.1%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.29 0.29
After-tax WACC 5.8% 8.0%

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: 6.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $182 (FY12-2024) to $167 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 32% to 30%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 0% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $97 $366M 65.2%
10-Year Growth $138 $502M 59.2%
5-Year EBITDA $120 $442M 71.1%
10-Year EBITDA $142 $516M 60.3%

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: 8.6%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.3%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $137.63 (-20.7% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.4% (Low) to 6.2% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $164 to $482
  • Selected fair value: $322.88 (86.1% 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) 8.0% - 5.8%
Enterprise Value $114M - $158M
Net Debt $48M
Equity Value $66M - $110M
Outstanding Shares 3M
Fair Value $20 - $33
Selected Fair Value $26.80

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $571M
Enterprise Value $619M
Trailing P/E 9.98
Forward P/E 12.75
Trailing EV/EBITDA 9.80
Current Dividend Yield 85.80%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 46.04%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.29

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% $41.35
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $24.16
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $27.53
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $48.43
Earnings Power Value 10% $2.68
Weighted Average 100% $144.14

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Harworth Group PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $144.14, which is approximately 16.9% below the current market price of $173.50.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (32% to 30% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.29)
  • Historical dividend growth of 46.04%

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