What is LANC's Intrinsic value?

Lancaster Colony Corp (LANC) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, Lancaster Colony Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $56.52 to $271.28 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $271.28 +66.2%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $204.41 +25.2%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $189.68 +16.2%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $137.72 -15.6%
Earnings Power Value $56.52 -65.4%

Is Lancaster Colony Corp (LANC) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $163.24, 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 Lancaster Colony 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 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.39 0.43
Cost of equity 5.7% 7.3%
Cost of debt 5.0% 5.0%
Tax rate 22.6% 23.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0 0
After-tax WACC 5.7% 7.3%

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: 6.5% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,872 (FY06-2024) to $3,333 (FY06-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 8% to 14%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 6% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $204 $5,511M 83.7%
10-Year Growth $271 $7,355M 70.9%
5-Year EBITDA $170 $4,572M 80.4%
10-Year EBITDA $230 $6,221M 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: 60.2%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $189.68 (16.2% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.3% (Low) to 5.7% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $69 to $207
  • Selected fair value: $137.72 (-15.6% 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 $91M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.3% - 5.7%
Enterprise Value $1,258M - $1,609M
Net Debt $(125)M
Equity Value $1,383M - $1,734M
Outstanding Shares 28M
Fair Value $50 - $63
Selected Fair Value $56.52

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $4501M
Enterprise Value $4376M
Trailing P/E 26.53
Forward P/E 24.08
Trailing EV/EBITDA 9.85
Current Dividend Yield 218.55%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 6.68%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.00

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% $81.38
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $51.10
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $37.94
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $20.66
Earnings Power Value 10% $5.65
Weighted Average 100% $196.73

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Lancaster Colony Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $196.73, which is approximately 20.5% above the current market price of $163.24.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (8% to 14% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.00)
  • Historical dividend growth of 6.68%

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