What is RBA.TO's Intrinsic value?

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc (RBA.TO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 22, 2025, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $70.64 to $129.07 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $129.07 -14.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $107.58 -28.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $72.70 -52.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $77.63 -48.7%
Earnings Power Value $70.64 -53.3%

Is Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc (RBA.TO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $151.38, the stock appears to be significantly 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 Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers 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 3.2% 3.7%
Equity market risk premium 5.1% 6.1%
Adjusted beta 0.62 0.72
Cost of equity 6.3% 8.6%
Cost of debt 5.4% 10.5%
Tax rate 24.8% 25.4%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.14 0.14
After-tax WACC 6.0% 8.5%

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: 7.3% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $4,284 (FY12-2024) to $8,883 (FY12-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 10% to 10%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 5% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $77 $16,467M 82.0%
10-Year Growth $92 $19,316M 68.8%
5-Year EBITDA $66 $14,373M 79.4%
10-Year EBITDA $81 $17,182M 64.9%

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: 58.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 7.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $72.70 (-52.0% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 8.6% (Low) to 6.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $24 to $87
  • Selected fair value: $77.63 (-48.7% 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 $815M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.5% - 6.0%
Enterprise Value $9,620M - $13,524M
Net Debt $2,209M
Equity Value $7,412M - $11,315M
Outstanding Shares 185M
Fair Value $40 - $61
Selected Fair Value $70.64

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $28023M
Enterprise Value $31108M
Trailing P/E 48.57
Forward P/E 46.25
Trailing EV/EBITDA 12.20
Current Dividend Yield 119.72%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 27.22%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.14

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% $38.72
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $26.89
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $14.54
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $11.64
Earnings Power Value 10% $7.06
Weighted Average 100% $98.86

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $98.86, which is approximately 34.7% below the current market price of $151.38.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (10% to 10% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.14)
  • Historical dividend growth of 27.22%

Given these factors, we believe Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc is currently significantly overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.