What is NWN's Intrinsic value?

Northwest Natural Holding Co (NWN) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of April 1, 2026, Northwest Natural Holding Co's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $39.53 to $94.38 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $85.43 +60.5%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $66.24 +24.5%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $47.81 -10.2%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $39.53 -25.7%
Earnings Power Value $94.38 +77.3%

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

With the current market price at $53.22, 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 0.39 0.42
Cost of equity 5.7% 7.2%
Cost of debt 4.7% 5.1%
Tax rate 25.7% 26.2%
Debt/Equity ratio 1.19 1.19
After-tax WACC 4.5% 5.3%

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: 4.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,289 (FY12-2025) to $2,090 (FY12-2035)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 9% to 9%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 33% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $66 $5,321M 81.6%
10-Year Growth $85 $6,119M 67.8%
5-Year EBITDA $62 $5,126M 80.9%
10-Year EBITDA $85 $6,084M 67.6%

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: 68.2%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5%
  • Fair value: $47.81 (-10.2% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.2% (Low) to 5.7% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.0% (Low) to 1.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $27 to $53
  • Selected fair value: $39.53 (-25.7% 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 $316M
Discount Rate (WACC) 5.3% - 4.5%
Enterprise Value $5,936M - $7,045M
Net Debt $2,568M
Equity Value $3,368M - $4,477M
Outstanding Shares 42M
Fair Value $81 - $108
Selected Fair Value $94.38

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $2212M
Enterprise Value $4780M
Trailing P/E 19.52
Forward P/E 18.45
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.50
Current Dividend Yield 352.11%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 8.43%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.19

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% $25.63
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $16.56
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $9.56
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $5.93
Earnings Power Value 10% $9.44
Weighted Average 100% $67.12

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Northwest Natural Holding Co's intrinsic value is $67.12, which is approximately 26.1% above the current market price of $53.22.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (9% to 9% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 8.43%

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.