What is SMDS.L's Intrinsic value?

DS Smith PLC (SMDS.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of July 16, 2025, DS Smith PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $340.00 to $504.20 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $504.20 -13.4%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $501.24 -13.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $346.35 -40.5%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $352.99 -39.4%
Earnings Power Value $340.00 -41.6%

Is DS Smith PLC (SMDS.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $582.50, 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 DS Smith 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 0.66 0.82
Cost of equity 7.9% 10.7%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.9%
Tax rate 22.6% 24.3%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.34 0.34
After-tax WACC 6.7% 8.9%

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: 7.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $6,822 (FY04-2024) to $9,160 (FY04-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 6% to 6%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 6% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $501 $9,243M 73.8%
10-Year Growth $504 $9,284M 55.3%
5-Year EBITDA $388 $7,669M 68.4%
10-Year EBITDA $423 $8,157M 49.1%

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: 64.2%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 9.3%
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0%
  • Fair value: $346.35 (-40.5% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.7% (Low) to 7.9% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0% (Low) to 3.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $199 to $507
  • Selected fair value: $352.99 (-39.4% 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 $535M
Discount Rate (WACC) 8.9% - 6.7%
Enterprise Value $5,993M - $8,004M
Net Debt $2,266M
Equity Value $3,727M - $5,738M
Outstanding Shares 14M
Fair Value $268 - $412
Selected Fair Value $340.00

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $8108M
Enterprise Value $10374M
Trailing P/E 21.06
Forward P/E 20.05
Trailing EV/EBITDA 6.35
Current Dividend Yield 304.64%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 2.70%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.34

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% $151.26
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $125.31
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $69.27
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $52.95
Earnings Power Value 10% $34.00
Weighted Average 100% $432.79

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, DS Smith PLC's intrinsic value is $432.79, which is approximately 25.7% below the current market price of $582.50.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (6% to 6% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Historical dividend growth of 2.70%

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