What is NWN's Intrinsic value?

Northwest Natural Holding Co (NWN) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of October 26, 2025, Northwest Natural Holding Co's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $32.89 to $122.39 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $122.39 +156.2%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $61.62 +29.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $64.63 +35.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $32.89 -31.2%
Earnings Power Value $73.32 +53.5%

Is Northwest Natural Holding Co (NWN) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $47.77, 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 Northwest Natural Holding 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 0.51 0.54
Cost of equity 6.2% 7.9%
Cost of debt 4.1% 4.9%
Tax rate 25.5% 25.7%
Debt/Equity ratio 1.03 1.03
After-tax WACC 4.6% 5.8%

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: 5.2% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,153 (FY12-2024) to $2,467 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 7% to 15%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 33% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $62 $4,806M 83.2%
10-Year Growth $122 $7,293M 71.5%
5-Year EBITDA $88 $3,596M 77.5%
10-Year EBITDA $130 $5,313M 60.9%

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: 73.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.1%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $64.63 (35.3% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.9% (Low) to 6.2% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $22 to $43
  • Selected fair value: $32.89 (-31.2% 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 $271M
Discount Rate (WACC) 5.8% - 4.6%
Enterprise Value $4,699M - $5,871M
Net Debt $2,283M
Equity Value $2,416M - $3,588M
Outstanding Shares 41M
Fair Value $59 - $88
Selected Fair Value $73.32

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $1956M
Enterprise Value $1956M
Trailing P/E 0.00
Forward P/E 17.55
Trailing EV/EBITDA 4.10
Current Dividend Yield 400.82%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 0.84%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.03

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% $36.72
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $15.41
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $12.93
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $4.93
Earnings Power Value 10% $7.33
Weighted Average 100% $77.31

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Northwest Natural Holding Co's intrinsic value is $77.31, which is approximately 61.8% above the current market price of $47.77.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (7% to 15% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 0.84%

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