What is MAA's Intrinsic value?

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc (MAA) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 25, 2025, Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $89.52 to $203.34 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $203.34 +33.1%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $170.52 +11.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $137.06 -10.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $130.52 -14.6%
Earnings Power Value $89.52 -41.4%

Is Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc (MAA) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $152.76, the stock appears to be fairly valued.

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 Mid-America Apartment Communities 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 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.59 0.7
Cost of equity 6.6% 8.8%
Cost of debt 4.0% 5.3%
Tax rate 1.0% 1.1%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.28 0.28
After-tax WACC 6.0% 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: 7.0% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $2,191 (FY12-2024) to $3,767 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 25% to 35%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 35% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $171 $24,920M 85.1%
10-Year Growth $203 $28,757M 73.2%
5-Year EBITDA $205 $28,902M 87.1%
10-Year EBITDA $234 $32,345M 76.2%

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: 123.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.7%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.5%
  • Fair value: $137.06 (-10.3% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.8% (Low) to 6.6% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.5% (Low) to 4.5% (High)
  • Fair value range: $54 to $207
  • Selected fair value: $130.52 (-14.6% 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 $1,064M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.0% - 6.0%
Enterprise Value $13,250M - $17,653M
Net Debt $4,986M
Equity Value $8,263M - $12,667M
Outstanding Shares 117M
Fair Value $71 - $108
Selected Fair Value $89.52

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $17858M
Enterprise Value $22844M
Trailing P/E 31.58
Forward P/E 30.27
Trailing EV/EBITDA 18.05
Current Dividend Yield 389.82%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 10.63%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.28

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% $61.00
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $42.63
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $27.41
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $19.58
Earnings Power Value 10% $8.95
Weighted Average 100% $159.58

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $159.58, which is approximately 4.5% above the current market price of $152.76.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (25% to 35% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.28)
  • Historical dividend growth of 10.63%

Given these factors, we believe Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc is currently fairly valued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.