What is WDFC's Intrinsic value?

WD-40 Co (WDFC) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of June 10, 2025, WD-40 Co's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $81.00 to $362.77 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $362.77 +49.1%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $284.37 +16.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $250.59 +3.0%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $230.48 -5.3%
Earnings Power Value $81.00 -66.7%

Is WD-40 Co (WDFC) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $243.26, the stock appears to be moderately 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 WD-40 Co'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 0.36 0.4
Cost of equity 5.5% 7.1%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.5%
Tax rate 19.8% 21.0%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.03 0.03
After-tax WACC 5.5% 7.0%

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: 6.2% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $591 (FY08-2024) to $1,071 (FY08-2034)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 12% to 22%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 2% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $284 $3,915M 87.6%
10-Year Growth $363 $4,978M 77.2%
5-Year EBITDA $148 $2,070M 76.5%
10-Year EBITDA $210 $2,911M 61.1%

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: 57.0%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 6.3%
  • Long-term growth rate: 3.0%
  • Fair value: $250.59 (3.0% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 7.1% (Low) to 5.5% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 2.0% (Low) to 4.0% (High)
  • Fair value range: $87 to $374
  • Selected fair value: $230.48 (-5.3% 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 $71M
Discount Rate (WACC) 7.0% - 5.5%
Enterprise Value $1,016M - $1,304M
Net Debt $62M
Equity Value $953M - $1,242M
Outstanding Shares 14M
Fair Value $70 - $92
Selected Fair Value $81.00

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $3296M
Enterprise Value $3358M
Trailing P/E 38.60
Forward P/E 36.22
Trailing EV/EBITDA 10.25
Current Dividend Yield 146.28%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) 6.98%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.03

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% $108.83
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $71.09
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $50.12
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $34.57
Earnings Power Value 10% $8.10
Weighted Average 100% $272.71

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, WD-40 Co's weighted average intrinsic value is $272.71, which is approximately 12.1% above the current market price of $243.26.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (12% to 22% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.03)
  • Historical dividend growth of 6.98%

Given these factors, we believe WD-40 Co is currently moderately undervalued with the potential for long-term appreciation based on the company's growth trajectory and financial strength.