What is LPI's Intrinsic value?

Laredo Petroleum Inc (LPI) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 19, 2025, Laredo Petroleum Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $128.66 to $471.60 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $471.60 +880.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $459.50 +855.5%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $128.66 +167.5%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $250.51 +420.9%
Earnings Power Value $419.04 +771.4%

Is Laredo Petroleum Inc (LPI) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $48.09, 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 Laredo Petroleum 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 4.2% 4.7%
Equity market risk premium 4.2% 5.2%
Adjusted beta 1.59 2.1
Cost of equity 11.0% 16.2%
Cost of debt 5.3% 8.6%
Tax rate 0.8% 1.2%
Debt/Equity ratio 1.38 1.38
After-tax WACC 7.7% 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: 9.7% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,921 (FY12-2022) to $1,615 (FY12-2032)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 33% to 33%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 16% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $460 $8,862M 62.5%
10-Year Growth $472 $9,065M 40.5%
5-Year EBITDA $205 $4,590M 27.6%
10-Year EBITDA $304 $6,253M 13.7%

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: 13.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $128.66 (167.5% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 16.2% (Low) to 11.0% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $162 to $339
  • Selected fair value: $250.51 (420.9% 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 $759M
Discount Rate (WACC) 11.8% - 7.7%
Enterprise Value $6,450M - $9,913M
Net Debt $1,136M
Equity Value $5,314M - $8,777M
Outstanding Shares 17M
Fair Value $316 - $522
Selected Fair Value $419.04

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $809M
Enterprise Value $1945M
Trailing P/E 1.28
Forward P/E 1.93
Trailing EV/EBITDA 1.95
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.38

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% $141.48
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $114.88
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $25.73
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $37.58
Earnings Power Value 10% $41.90
Weighted Average 100% $361.57

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Laredo Petroleum Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $361.57, which is approximately 651.9% above the current market price of $48.09.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (33% to 33% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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