What is MED's Intrinsic value?

Medifast Inc (MED) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 7, 2025, Medifast Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $8.57 to $138.50 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $28.23 +122.3%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $26.25 +106.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $8.57 -32.5%
Earnings Power Value $138.50 +990.5%

Is Medifast Inc (MED) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $12.70, 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 Medifast 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 0.55 0.88
Cost of equity 6.4% 9.8%
Cost of debt 5.0% 5.0%
Tax rate 23.2% 23.7%
Debt/Equity ratio 1 1
After-tax WACC 5.1% 6.8%

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: 6.0% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $602 (FY12-2024) to $461 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 0% to 2%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 1% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $26 $197M 77.7%
10-Year Growth $28 $219M 65.6%
5-Year EBITDA $19 $118M 62.7%
10-Year EBITDA $21 $143M 47.3%

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: 0.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $8.57 (-32.5% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 9.8% (Low) to 6.4% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $(5) to $(17)
  • Selected fair value: $-10.95 (-186.2% 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 $84M
Discount Rate (WACC) 6.8% - 5.1%
Enterprise Value $1,229M - $1,632M
Net Debt $(92)M
Equity Value $1,321M - $1,724M
Outstanding Shares 11M
Fair Value $120 - $157
Selected Fair Value $138.50

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $140M
Enterprise Value $48M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 40.11
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.40
Current Dividend Yield 14.26%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -65.95%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.11

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) 35% $8.47
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 29% $6.56
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 24% $1.71
Earnings Power Value 12% $13.85
Weighted Average 100% $35.99

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Medifast Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $35.99, which is approximately 183.4% above the current market price of $12.70.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (0% to 2% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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