What is RUTH's Intrinsic value?

Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc (RUTH) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 2, 2025, Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $12.93 to $37.82 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $37.82 +76.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $33.04 +53.8%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $27.99 +30.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $17.72 -17.6%
Earnings Power Value $12.93 -39.8%

Is Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc (RUTH) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $21.49, 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 Ruth's Hospitality Group 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 3.9% 4.4%
Equity market risk premium 4.6% 5.6%
Adjusted beta 0.74 0.91
Cost of equity 7.3% 10.0%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.5%
Tax rate 15.9% 16.9%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.04 0.04
After-tax WACC 7.1% 9.7%

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: 8.4% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $506 (FY12-2022) to $986 (FY12-2032)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 8% to 8%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 6% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $22 $704M 75.0%
10-Year Growth $26 $826M 57.8%

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: 49.4%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $27.99 (30.3% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.0% (Low) to 7.3% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $10 to $26
  • Selected fair value: $17.72 (-17.6% 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 $34M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.7% - 7.1%
Enterprise Value $350M - $478M
Net Debt $(1)M
Equity Value $351M - $479M
Outstanding Shares 32M
Fair Value $11 - $15
Selected Fair Value $12.93

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $691M
Enterprise Value $690M
Trailing P/E 17.50
Forward P/E 16.60
Trailing EV/EBITDA 7.45
Current Dividend Yield 282.84%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 7.83%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.04

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% $11.35
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $8.26
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $5.60
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $2.66
Earnings Power Value 10% $1.29
Weighted Average 100% $29.16

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc's weighted average intrinsic value is $29.16, which is approximately 35.7% above the current market price of $21.49.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (8% to 8% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.04)
  • Historical dividend growth of 7.83%

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