What is RNW.TO's Intrinsic value?

TransAlta Renewables Inc (RNW.TO) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 25, 2025, TransAlta Renewables Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $13.14 to $26.85 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $13.14 +5.3%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $13.96 +11.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $13.31 +6.6%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $26.85 +115.2%
Earnings Power Value $16.05 +28.6%

Is TransAlta Renewables Inc (RNW.TO) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $12.48, 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 TransAlta Renewables 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 0.43 0.49
Cost of equity 5.4% 7.1%
Cost of debt 4.3% 6.3%
Tax rate 10.5% 15.1%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.24 0.24
After-tax WACC 5.1% 6.8%

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: 5.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $560 (FY12-2022) to $586 (FY12-2032)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 13% to 22%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 13% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $14 $4,491M 91.2%
10-Year Growth $13 $4,271M 82.0%
5-Year EBITDA $4 $1,901M 79.3%
10-Year EBITDA $5 $2,108M 63.4%

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: 321.8%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.2%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.9%
  • Fair value: $13.31 (6.6% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.1% (Low) to 5.4% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0% (Low) to 4.8% (High)
  • Fair value range: $5 to $49
  • Selected fair value: $26.85 (115.2% 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 $293M
Discount Rate (WACC) 6.8% - 5.1%
Enterprise Value $4,326M - $5,771M
Net Debt $764M
Equity Value $3,562M - $5,007M
Outstanding Shares 267M
Fair Value $13 - $19
Selected Fair Value $16.05

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $3331M
Enterprise Value $4095M
Trailing P/E 42.70
Forward P/E 48.91
Trailing EV/EBITDA 10.75
Current Dividend Yield 753.55%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 2.21%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.24

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% $3.94
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $3.49
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $2.66
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $4.03
Earnings Power Value 10% $1.61
Weighted Average 100% $15.73

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, TransAlta Renewables Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $15.73, which is approximately 26.0% above the current market price of $12.48.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (13% to 22% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.24)
  • Historical dividend growth of 2.21%

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