What is MDP's Intrinsic value?

Meredith Corp (MDP) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 15, 2025, Meredith Corp's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $54.85 to $138.66 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $125.07 +111.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $106.19 +79.8%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $54.85 -7.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $60.51 +2.4%
Earnings Power Value $138.66 +134.7%

Is Meredith Corp (MDP) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $59.07, 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 Meredith 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 3.2% 3.7%
Equity market risk premium 4.2% 5.2%
Adjusted beta 1.17 1.26
Cost of equity 8.1% 10.8%
Cost of debt 5.9% 6.1%
Tax rate 18.6% 27.2%
Debt/Equity ratio 1.02 1.02
After-tax WACC 6.5% 7.6%

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 $2,977 (FY06-2021) to $3,678 (FY06-2031)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 10% to 10%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $106 $7,331M 73.8%
10-Year Growth $125 $8,194M 55.8%
5-Year EBITDA $52 $4,851M 60.5%
10-Year EBITDA $79 $6,076M 40.4%

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: 9.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $54.85 (-7.1% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.8% (Low) to 8.1% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $41 to $80
  • Selected fair value: $60.51 (2.4% 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 $615M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.6% - 6.5%
Enterprise Value $8,121M - $9,510M
Net Debt $2,479M
Equity Value $5,642M - $7,032M
Outstanding Shares 46M
Fair Value $123 - $154
Selected Fair Value $138.66

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $2699M
Enterprise Value $5178M
Trailing P/E 9.34
Forward P/E 9.27
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.30
Current Dividend Yield 0.00%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -100.00%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.02

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% $37.52
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $26.55
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $10.97
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $9.08
Earnings Power Value 10% $13.87
Weighted Average 100% $97.98

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Meredith Corp's weighted average intrinsic value is $97.98, which is approximately 65.9% above the current market price of $59.07.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (10% to 10% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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