What is MRK's Intrinsic value?

Merck & Co Inc (MRK) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 10, 2025, Merck & Co Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $97.61 to $144.91 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $144.91 +82.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $120.02 +51.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $98.93 +24.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $97.61 +23.0%
Earnings Power Value $100.70 +26.9%

Is Merck & Co Inc (MRK) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $79.33, 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 Merck & Co 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 0.52 0.58
Cost of equity 6.3% 8.1%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.5%
Tax rate 13.1% 17.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.19 0.19
After-tax WACC 5.8% 7.4%

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: 6.6% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $64,168 (FY12-2024) to $99,355 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 27% to 27%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 8% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $120 $327,594M 77.1%
10-Year Growth $145 $390,094M 61.7%
5-Year EBITDA $81 $228,448M 67.2%
10-Year EBITDA $107 $295,505M 49.5%

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: 45.5%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.2%
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0%
  • Fair value: $98.93 (24.7% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.1% (Low) to 6.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5% (Low) to 1.5% (High)
  • Fair value range: $64 to $131
  • Selected fair value: $97.61 (23.0% 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 $18,201M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.4% - 5.8%
Enterprise Value $245,257M - $312,895M
Net Debt $26,215M
Equity Value $219,042M - $286,680M
Outstanding Shares 2,511M
Fair Value $87 - $114
Selected Fair Value $100.70

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $199200M
Enterprise Value $225415M
Trailing P/E 11.43
Forward P/E 11.81
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.30
Current Dividend Yield 400.41%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 5.98%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.19

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% $43.47
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $30.01
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $19.79
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $14.64
Earnings Power Value 10% $10.07
Weighted Average 100% $117.98

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Merck & Co Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $117.98, which is approximately 48.7% above the current market price of $79.33.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (27% to 27% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.19)
  • Historical dividend growth of 5.98%

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