What is UDG.L's Intrinsic value?

UDG Healthcare plc (UDG.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 18, 2025, UDG Healthcare plc's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $538.51 to $1148.82 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $974.59 -9.7%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $881.48 -18.3%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $729.21 -32.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $1148.82 +6.5%
Earnings Power Value $538.51 -50.1%

Is UDG Healthcare plc (UDG.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $1079.00, the stock appears to be moderately 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 UDG Healthcare 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 2.9% 3.4%
Equity market risk premium 5.3% 6.3%
Adjusted beta 0.73 0.97
Cost of equity 6.8% 10.1%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.5%
Tax rate 20.9% 22.6%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.12 0.12
After-tax WACC 6.5% 9.4%

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: 7.9% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $1,279 (FY09-2020) to $1,809 (FY09-2030)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 7% to 12%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 4% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $1,073 $2,854M 82.1%
10-Year Growth $1,186 $3,140M 65.3%
5-Year EBITDA $584 $1,622M 68.5%
10-Year EBITDA $748 $2,036M 46.5%

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: 48.6%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 8.4%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $729.21 (-32.4% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 10.1% (Low) to 6.8% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $600 to $2,197
  • Selected fair value: $1148.82 (6.5% 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 $138M
Discount Rate (WACC) 9.4% - 6.5%
Enterprise Value $1,469M - $2,136M
Net Debt $150M
Equity Value $1,318M - $1,986M
Outstanding Shares 3M
Fair Value $523 - $788
Selected Fair Value $538.51

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $2719M
Enterprise Value $2830M
Trailing P/E 20.68
Forward P/E 36.82
Trailing EV/EBITDA 5.75
Current Dividend Yield 255.98%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 8.78%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.12

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% $292.38
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $220.37
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $145.84
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $172.32
Earnings Power Value 10% $53.85
Weighted Average 100% $884.76

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, UDG Healthcare plc's weighted average intrinsic value is $884.76, which is approximately 18.0% below the current market price of $1079.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (7% to 12% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.12)
  • Historical dividend growth of 8.78%

Given these factors, we believe UDG Healthcare plc is currently moderately overvalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.