What is SCIN.L's Intrinsic value?

Scottish Investment Trust PLC (SCIN.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 12, 2025, Scottish Investment Trust PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $166.25 to $841.60 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $841.60 -6.0%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $796.60 -11.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $569.74 -36.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $610.04 -31.8%
Earnings Power Value $166.25 -81.4%

Is Scottish Investment Trust PLC (SCIN.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $895.00, 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 Scottish Investment Trust PLC'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 4.0% 4.5%
Equity market risk premium 6.0% 7.0%
Adjusted beta 0.91 0.96
Cost of equity 9.4% 11.7%
Cost of debt 4.9% 5.8%
Tax rate 2.8% 9.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.14 0.14
After-tax WACC 8.8% 10.9%

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: 9.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $83 (FY10-2021) to $60 (FY10-2031)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 87% to 87%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 0% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $797 $531M 69.9%
10-Year Growth $842 $561M 48.5%
5-Year EBITDA $525 $349M 54.3%
10-Year EBITDA $641 $427M 32.4%

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: 31.1%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 10.5%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $569.74 (-36.3% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 11.7% (Low) to 9.4% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $389 to $831
  • Selected fair value: $610.04 (-31.8% 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 $11M
Discount Rate (WACC) 10.9% - 8.8%
Enterprise Value $98M - $120M
Net Debt $(2)M
Equity Value $100M - $122M
Outstanding Shares 1M
Fair Value $149 - $183
Selected Fair Value $166.25

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $599M
Enterprise Value $597M
Trailing P/E 15.11
Forward P/E 14.61
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.40
Current Dividend Yield 205.72%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -6.81%
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% $252.48
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $199.15
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $113.95
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $91.51
Earnings Power Value 10% $16.62
Weighted Average 100% $673.71

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Scottish Investment Trust PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $673.71, which is approximately 24.7% below the current market price of $895.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (87% to 87% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.14)

Given these factors, we believe Scottish Investment Trust PLC is currently significantly overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.