What is NFG's Intrinsic value?

National Fuel Gas Co (NFG) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 14, 2025, National Fuel Gas Co's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $29.35 to $161.47 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $93.34 +10.9%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $44.85 -46.7%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $65.95 -21.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $29.35 -65.1%
Earnings Power Value $161.47 +91.9%

Is National Fuel Gas Co (NFG) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $84.15, the stock appears to be moderately overvalued.

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 National Fuel Gas Co'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 0.39 0.44
Cost of equity 5.7% 7.3%
Cost of debt 4.6% 4.7%
Tax rate 17.5% 20.3%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.37 0.37
After-tax WACC 5.1% 6.4%

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: 5.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,945 (FY09-2024) to $4,854 (FY09-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 4% to 5%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 44% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $45 $6,952M 93.6%
10-Year Growth $93 $11,333M 87.7%
5-Year EBITDA $64 $8,687M 94.9%
10-Year EBITDA $82 $10,274M 86.4%

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: 470.9%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.9%
  • Fair value: $65.95 (-21.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.3% (Low) to 5.7% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 4.9% (High)
  • Fair value range: $7 to $52
  • Selected fair value: $29.35 (-65.1% 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 $995M
Discount Rate (WACC) 6.4% - 5.1%
Enterprise Value $15,626M - $19,350M
Net Debt $2,900M
Equity Value $12,726M - $16,451M
Outstanding Shares 90M
Fair Value $141 - $182
Selected Fair Value $161.47

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $7603M
Enterprise Value $10503M
Trailing P/E 192.16
Forward P/E 74.25
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.35
Current Dividend Yield 249.84%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 4.64%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.37

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% $28.00
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $11.21
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $13.19
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $4.40
Earnings Power Value 10% $16.15
Weighted Average 100% $72.95

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, National Fuel Gas Co's weighted average intrinsic value is $72.95, which is approximately 13.3% below the current market price of $84.15.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (4% to 5% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 4.64%

Given these factors, we believe National Fuel Gas Co is currently moderately overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.