What is MLCO's Intrinsic value?

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd (MLCO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 15, 2025, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $2.45 to $52.87 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $52.87 +778.2%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $20.00 +232.1%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $14.52 +141.2%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $2.45 -59.3%
Earnings Power Value $4.60 -23.6%

Is Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd (MLCO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $6.02, 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 Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd'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 0.82 1.15
Cost of equity 7.6% 11.3%
Cost of debt 5.1% 5.5%
Tax rate 0.4% 1.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 3.02 3.02
After-tax WACC 5.7% 6.9%

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: 6.3% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $4,638 (FY12-2024) to $10,135 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from -1% to 6%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 24% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $20 $15,457M 90.3%
10-Year Growth $53 $28,772M 80.9%
5-Year EBITDA $24 $16,938M 91.1%
10-Year EBITDA $40 $23,608M 76.7%

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: 558.4%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 9.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $14.52 (141.2% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 11.3% (Low) to 7.6% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $1 to $4
  • Selected fair value: $2.45 (-59.3% 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 $575M
Discount Rate (WACC) 6.9% - 5.7%
Enterprise Value $8,346M - $10,095M
Net Debt $7,358M
Equity Value $988M - $2,737M
Outstanding Shares 405M
Fair Value $2 - $7
Selected Fair Value $4.60

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $2438M
Enterprise Value $9796M
Trailing P/E 39.73
Forward P/E 41.83
Trailing EV/EBITDA 8.90
Current Dividend Yield 1405.50%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -74.32%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 3.02

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% $15.86
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $5.00
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $2.90
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $0.37
Earnings Power Value 10% $0.46
Weighted Average 100% $24.59

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd's weighted average intrinsic value is $24.59, which is approximately 308.5% above the current market price of $6.02.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (-1% to 6% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation

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