What is WTAN.L's Intrinsic value?

Witan Investment Trust PLC (WTAN.L) Intrinsic Value Analysis

Executive Summary

As of May 29, 2025, Witan Investment Trust PLC's estimated intrinsic value ranges from $102.28 to $402.77 per share, depending on the valuation methodology applied.

Valuation Method Fair Value (USD) Implied Upside/Downside
Discounted Cash Flow (10Y) $402.77 +51.4%
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) $372.04 +39.9%
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) $267.19 +0.4%
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) $319.36 +20.1%
Earnings Power Value $102.28 -61.5%

Is Witan Investment Trust PLC (WTAN.L) undervalued or overvalued?

With the current market price at $266.00, 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 Witan 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 0.9 0.98
Cost of equity 9.4% 11.8%
Cost of debt 4.0% 4.6%
Tax rate 0.8% 1.1%
Debt/Equity ratio 0.15 0.15
After-tax WACC 8.7% 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: 9.8% (range: 0.0% - 9.3%)

Key Projections:

  • Revenue growth from $206 (FY12-2023) to $284 (FY12-2033)
  • Net profit margin expansion from 88% to 88%
  • Capital expenditures maintained at approximately 0% of revenue
DCF Model Fair Value Enterprise Value % from Terminal Value
5-Year Growth $372 $2,364M 67.8%
10-Year Growth $403 $2,550M 45.6%
5-Year EBITDA $352 $2,245M 66.1%
10-Year EBITDA $389 $2,464M 43.7%

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: 17.3%
  • Stable payout ratio: 90.0%
  • Growth transition: 5 years
  • Cost of equity: 10.6%
  • Long-term growth rate: 1.0%
  • Fair value: $267.19 (0.4% from current price)

Stable DDM:

  • Stable payout ratio: 70% (Low) to 90% (High)
  • Cost of equity: 11.8% (Low) to 9.4% (High)
  • Long-term growth rate: 0.5% (Low) to 1.5% (High)
  • Fair value range: $224 to $415
  • Selected fair value: $319.36 (20.1% 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 $70M
Discount Rate (WACC) 10.9% - 8.7%
Enterprise Value $644M - $808M
Net Debt $105M
Equity Value $539M - $703M
Outstanding Shares 6M
Fair Value $89 - $116
Selected Fair Value $102.28

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Value
Market Capitalization $1615M
Enterprise Value $1720M
Trailing P/E 7.33
Forward P/E 8.27
Trailing EV/EBITDA 10.55
Current Dividend Yield 235.80%
Dividend Growth Rate (5Y) -3.44%
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.15

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% $120.83
Discounted Cash Flow (5Y) 25% $93.01
Dividend Discount Model (Multi-Stage) 20% $53.44
Dividend Discount Model (Stable) 15% $47.90
Earnings Power Value 10% $10.23
Weighted Average 100% $325.41

Investment Conclusion

Based on our comprehensive valuation analysis, Witan Investment Trust PLC's weighted average intrinsic value is $325.41, which is approximately 22.3% above the current market price of $266.00.

Key investment considerations:

  • Strong projected earnings growth (88% to 88% margin)
  • Consistent cash flow generation
  • Conservative capital structure (Debt/Equity of 0.15)

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