Archive for the ‘Apple’ Category

Running The Numbers – Apple ($AAPL) still looking expensive

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

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Apple ($AAPL) announced quarter one results today.  With the $AAPL share price over US$200 – 52-week range US$82.33-215.59 – we decided to have a quick look.

Valuecruncher Interactive Analysts Report For Apple ($AAPL)

We have the comparator group set as Microsoft ($MSFT), IBM ($IBM), Google ($GOOG) and Hewlett-Packard($HPQ). You can change these peer companies on the site. For example you could add:

  1. Research In Motion ($RIM)Interactive Analyst Report For $RIM
  2. Palm ($PALM)Interactive Analyst Report For $PALM
  3. Qualcomm ($QCOM)Interactive Analyst Report For $QCOM

So what do we think?

Discounted Cash Flow Valuation

We have completed a discounted cash flow valuation using our interactive tools (there is a “discounted cash flow analysis” link just under the company name on the company page). We have populated our model with a mixture of consensus analyst estimates and Valuecruncher estimates. Our analysis produces a valuation of US$189.23 for $AAPL – 6.7% below the current share price. We see $AAPL overvalued at the moment. But how about compared to a peer group?

Comparison Analysis

I changed the peer group companies to $IBM, $RIM, $QCOM and $GOOG.  I am going to look at only one of the metrics we use at Valuecruncher – EV/EBITDA. Enterprise Value (EV) is simply market capitalization plus net debt [long-term borrowings less cash]. We use EV to capture the impact of debt and cash on a company’s balance sheet – market capitalization doesn’t capture different capital structures when comparing companies. EV/EBITDA shows how a dollar of profit (measured in as Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) is being valued by the market against the comparator set.

On an EV/EBITDA basis $AAPLT is trading at 18.6x ($AAPL is being valued at 18.6x last year’s profit at the EBITDA line). A dollar of $AAPL EBITDA is worth more a dollar of $IBM (more than double), $RIM, $QCOM or $GOOG EBITDA. This is despite $AAPL making less margin at the EBITDA line than any of these comparators ($AAPL made a 22.8% EBITDA margin last year comparded with 23.0% at $IBM and 41.6% at $GOOG). There are still some steep expectations being priced into the current share price.

If we lower the $AAPL EV/EBITDA multiple to 17.5x (a slight premium to $QCOM) then this gives a share price of US$187.57 – 7.5% below the current share price. This valuation is in line with our DCF analysis.

aapl-ev-ebitda-20100126

Summary

Based on our DCF valuation – $AAPL looks overvalued. Looking at some comparators – the market is valuing $AAPL highly compared to some peers. We believe if you are investing in $AAPL at the current price – you are paying a full price and there are cheaper options available. We know that we will hear about that from the $AAPL fans out there however.

Disclosure: no positions.



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Running The Numbers – The Roller Coaster Apple ($AAPL) Share Price

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

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It has been a crazy 15 months for the Apple ($AAPL) share price. On the 22 August 2008 $AAPL was trading at $176.79. By 16 January 2009 $AAPL had dropped to $82.33 – down over half (53% down) in under five months. Today $AAPL closed at $190.01 – up over 130% in under nine months. The graph below shows the closing prices over the period. So what do we think about $AAPL?

Valuecruncher Interactive Analysts Report For Apple ($AAPL)

We have the comparator group set as Microsoft ($MSFT), IBM ($IBM), Google ($GOOG) and Hewlett-Packard($HPQ). You can change these peer companies on the site. For example you could add:

  1. Research In Motion ($RIM)Interactive Analyst Report For $RIM
  2. Palm ($PALM)Interactive Analyst Report For $PALM
  3. Qualcomm ($QCOM)Interactive Analyst Report For $QCOM

So what do we think?

Discounted Cash Flow Valuation

We have completed a discounted cash flow valuation using our interactive tools (there is a “discounted cash flow analysis” link just under the company name on the company page). We have populated our model with a mixture of consensus analyst estimates and Valuecruncher estimates. Our analysis produces a valuation of US$176.16 for $AAPL – 7.3% below the current share price. We see $AAPL overvalued at the moment. But how about compared to a peer group?

Comparison Analysis

I changed the peer group companies to $IBM, $RIM, $PALM and $QCOM.  I am going to look at two of the metrics we use at Valuecruncher – Enterprise Value (EV)/Revenue and EV/EBITDA. Enterprise Value (EV) is simply market capitalization plus net debt [long-term borrowings less cash]. We use EV to capture the impact of debt and cash on a company’s balance sheet – market capitalization doesn’t capture different capital structures when comparing companies.

EV/Revenue shows how a dollar or revenues is being valued by the market against the comparator set. On an EV/Revenue basis $AAPL is trading at 4.5x ($AAPL is being valued at 4.5x last year’s revenues). This compares to $IBM at 1.7x, $RIM at 3.5x, $PALM at 3.4x and $QCOM at 5.8x. $AAPL’s profit margins (at the EBITDA line) are 20.9% of revenues.  A dollar of $AAPL revenues is being valued more than a dollar of $RIM revenues – despite that dollar of revenues producing less profit (on an EBITDA basis) than the $RIM revenues.  A dollar of $AAPL revenues is being valued less than a dollar of $QCOM revenues – but $QCOM produces nearly twice the profit (on an EBITDA basis) as $AAPL.  We would expect the difference between the multiples for $QCOM and $AAPL to be larger – in $QCOM’s favour. There are some big growth expectations for $AAPL – on an EV/Revenue basis there appears to be a premium being paid for $AAPL against the peer group.

If we lower the $AAPL EV/Revenue multiple to 3.75x (a slight premium to $RIM) then this gives a share price of $163.30 – 14% below the current share price.

aapl-ev-revenue

EV/EBITDA shows how a dollar of profit (measured in as Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) is being valued by the market against the comparator set. On an EV/EBITDA basis $AAPLT is trading at 21.51x ($AAPL is being valued at 21.5x last year’s profit at the EBITDA line). A dollar of $AAPL EBITDA is worth more than double a dollar of $IBM, $RIM or $QCOM EBITDA ($PALM is losing money at the EBITDA line).

If we lower the $AAPL EV/EBITDA multiple to 17.5x (a slight premium to $QCOM) then this gives a share price of $160.06 – 16% below the current share price.

aapl-ev-ebitda

Summary

Based on our DCF valuation – $AAPL looks overvalued. Looking at some comparators – the market is valuing $AAPL highly compared to some peers. We believe if you are investing in $AAPL at the current price – you are paying a full price and there are cheaper options available. We do recognize that there are a lot of $AAPL fans out there however.

Disclosure: no positions.



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Running The Numbers – Valuing Apple ($AAPL)

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

After our recent post on Microsoft ($MSFT) – people asked for a quick take on Apple ($AAPL). Here it is.

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om/companies/82″>Valuecruncher Interactive Analysts Report For Apple ($AAPL)

We have the comparator group set as Microsoft ($MSFT), IBM ($IBM), Google ($GOOG) and Hewlett-Packard($HPQ). You can change these peer companies on the site. For example you could add:

  1. Research In Motion ($RIM)Interactive Analyst Report For $RIM
  2. Palm ($PALM)Interactive Analyst Report For $PALM
  3. Qualcomm ($QCOM)Interactive Analyst Report For $QCOM

$AAPL’s share price is currently trading at US$160.00. This is well up from the 52-week low of US$78.20. The graph below shows the last 12 months of closing prices.

So what do we think?

Discounted Cash Flow Valuation

We have completed a discounted cash flow valuation using our interactive tools (there is a “discounted cash flow analysis” link just under the company name on the company page). We have populated our model with a mixture of consensus analyst estimates and Valuecruncher estimates. Our analysis produces a valuation of US$161.63 for $AAPL – 1.0% above the current share price. We see $AAPL correctly valued at the moment. But how about compared to a peer group?

Comparison Analysis

I am going to look at two of the metrics we use at Valuecruncher – Enterprise Value (EV)/Revenue and EV/EBITDA. Enterprise Value (EV) is simply market capitalization plus net debt [long-term borrowings less cash]. We use EV to capture the impact of debt and cash on a company’s balance sheet – market capitalization doesn’t capture different capital structures when comparing companies.

EV/Revenue shows how a dollar or revenues is being valued by the market against the comparator set. On an EV/Revenue basis $AAPL is trading at 3.66x ($AAPL is being valued at 3.66x last year’s revenues). This compares to $MSFT at 3.08x, $IBM at 1.70x, $GOOG at 5.73x and $HPQ at 0.91x. $AAPL’s profit margins (at the EBITDA line) are 20.9% of revenues. A dollar of $AAPL revenues is being valued more than a dollar of $MSFT revenues – despite that dollar of revenues producing just more than half the profit of the $MSFT revenues. A dollar of $AAPL revenues is being valued twice as much as a dollar of $IBM revenues – despite that dollar of revenues producing a similar level of profit as the $AAPL revenues. As we have previously noted – that is some big growth expectations for $AAPL.

EV/EBITDA shows how a dollar of profit (measured in as Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) is being valued by the market against the comparator set. On an EV/EBITDA basis $AAPLT is trading at 17.51x ($AAPL is being valued at 17.51x last year’s profit at the EBITDA line). A dollar of $AAPL EBITDA is worth more than double a dollar of $MSFT, $IBM or $HPQ EBITDA. And more than a dollar of $GOOG EBITDA as well. $AAPL is trading at a higher EV/EBITDA multiple than $RIM and $QCOM as well – but it is in the same general ballpark. $RIM is trading at 15.08x and $QCOM at 16.93x.

Summary

Based on our DCF valuation – $AAPL looks correctly valued. Looking at some comparators – the market is valuing $AAPL pretty highly compared to some peers. On an EV/Revenue basis – a dollar of $AAPL revenues is worth more than a dollar of $MSFT revenues even when the dollar of $MSFT revenues produces nearly twice the profits of the $AAPL revenues. We believe if you are investing in $AAPL at the current price – you are paying a full price and there are cheaper options available.

Disclosure: no positions.


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Running The Numbers – Where is Apple ($AAPL) At?

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

At Valuecruncher we have not looked at Apple ($AAPL) since late last year. $AAPL is now trading at US$136.09. We felt it was time to revisit the valuation of $AAPL from an intrinsic value perspective – and most importantly the assumptions that we are using in our valuation.

Valuecruncher interactive analyst report for $AAPL

Valuecruncher produces a valuation of US$140.57 for $AAPL. This is a current valuation (an estimate of intrinsic value using a discounted cash flow model) not a target price. This valuation is 3.3% above the current share price of US$136.09.  $AAPL appears reasonably valued at the moment.

Assumptions

  • Revenue: Reuters aggregates 32 analysts covering $AAPL and the mean estimates of 2009 and 2010 revenues are US$35.5 billion and US$41.4 billion respectively. For our analysis we have used US$35.5 billion in 2009, US$41.25 billion in 2010 and US$47.0 billion in 2011.
  • Profitability: We have used an EBITDA margin of 20.5% to 2011. Reuters has $AAPL‘s EBITD margin at 21.4% last year and an average of 16.8% over the last five-years.
  • Capital Expenditure: We have assumed capital expenditures of US$1.0 billion in 2009, US$1.15 billion in 2010 then US$1.25 billion per annum moving forward.
  • Discount Rate: 10.0%.
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 4.5%. In our assumptions we have 2010/11 revenue growth at 13.9% – we have assumed that growth eventually slows to a 3.5% long-term stable growth rate.

Our analysis incorporates the cash on the $AAPL balance sheet – Valuecruncher calculates a net debt number.

Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say?

Disclosure: None

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Running The Numbers – Microsoft ($MSFT) Represents Value Trading Under US$20 A Share

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Microsoft ($MSFT) continues to trade under US$20 a share. We have previously looked at $MSFT and felt it was undervalued in the US$20-25 ra

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nge. We decided it was time to revisit our valuation.

Valuecruncher valuation model of $MSFT with interactive assumptions

Valuecruncher produces a valuation of US$25.34 for $MSFT. This is a current valuation (an estimate of intrinsic value using a discounted cash flow model) not a target price. This valuation is 33.6% above the current share price of US$18.96.

Assumptions

  • Revenue: Reuters aggregates 30 analysts covering $MSFT and the mean estimate of 2009 revenues is US$67.3 billion. For our analysis we have used US$64.0 billion in 2009, US$68.5 billion in 2010 and US$72.5 billion in 2011. Between 2004 and 2008 $MSFT grew revenues at a compound annual growth rate of 13.2% – revenues of US$36.8 billion in 2004 to US$60.4 billion in 2008.
  • Profitability: We have used an EBITDA margin of 40.0% to 2011. Reuters has $MSFT‘s EBITD margin at 39.25% last year and an average of 37.0% over the last five-years.
  • Capital Expenditure: We have assumed capital expenditures of US$3.75 billion per annum moving forward.
  • Discount Rate: 11.0%.
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 3.0%. In our assumptions we have 2010/11 revenue growth at 5.8% – we have assumed that growth eventually slows to a 3.0% long-term stable growth rate. We have used 3.0% as our terminal growth rate.

Our analysis incorporates the cash on the $MSFT balance sheet – Valuecruncher calculates a net debt number.

Comparator Analysis

Comparator analysis (sometimes called comparison company analysis) is a relative valuation approach. For $MSFT we looked at four peer companies – IBM ($IBM), Apple ($AAPL), HP ($HPQ) and Google ($GOOG). We calculated enterprise values – market capitalisation plus net debt (long-term borrowings less cash). Then we measured a range of metrics against the enterprise value for $MSFT and the peer set.

Microsoft Comparison on enterprise value

We have used the last financial year (LFY) as the base set of metrics. $MSFT is currently priced at the bottom of the peer group for the EV/EBITDA and EV/EBIT metrics and in the middle for the EV/FCF metric. The market is currently valuing the profits (EBIT and EBITDA) and free cash flow produced by $MSFT at less than half that of the comparable numbers for $GOOG. This reflects the perceived different future growth prospects of the two businesses. The comparator numbers show $MSFT is comparably priced against the peer group – even with the strengths of their business model (39.8% EBITDA margins vs 18.9% for $IBM and 11.7% for $HPQ). $MSFT’s growth is slowing – but it is still a very good business. Should $MSFT’s profits (at the EBITDA and EBIT levels) really be valued less than $IBM and $HPQ?

Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say? We think that $MSFT looks undervalued. Our model is interactive – you can change any of our assumptions.

Disclosure: None


Running The Numbers – Apple ($AAPL). Trading at 7.0x Last Years Free Cash Flow. That’s cheap.

Monday, December 8th, 2008

At Valuecruncher we have looked at Apple ($AAPL) twice over the last six-months. In June with the $AAPL share price at US$186.10 we produced a valuation of US$146.70.

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Then in September with the $AAPL share price at US$131.05 we had a valuation of US$163.98. We are now in early-December and $AAPL has continued to head south – with the market generally. $AAPL is now trading at US$94.00 – just over half the price we first looked at in June. We felt it was time to revisit the valuation of $AAPL from an intrinsic value perspective – and most importantly the assumptions that we are using. We have also completed some high-level comparator analysis looking at the current price of $AAPL against some broad peers using a range of metrics.

Valuecruncher valuation model of $AAPL with interactive assumptions

Valuecruncher produces a valuation of US$109.55 for $AAPL. This is a current valuation (an estimate of intrinsic value using a discounted cash flow model) not a target price. This valuation is 16.5% above the current share price of US$94.00.

Assumptions

  • Revenue: Reuters aggregates 29 analysts covering $AAPL and the mean estimate of 2009 revenues is US$40.6 billion. For our analysis we have used US$36.5 billion in 2009, US$43.5 billion in 2010 and US$49.0 billion in 2011.
  • Profitability: We have used an EBITDA margin of 19.0% to 2011. Reuters has $AAPL‘s EBITD margin at 20.8% last year and an average of 16.8% over the last five-years.
  • Capital Expenditure: We have assumed capital expenditures of US$1.15 billion per annum moving forward.
  • Discount Rate: 11.0%. In our June valuation we used a discount rate of 11.0% but dropped that to 10.0% in September. We believe 11.0% is a reasonable assumption in the current market conditions.
  • Terminal Growth Rate: 4.0%. In our assumptions we have 2010/11 revenue growth at 12.6% – we have assumed that growth eventually slows to a 3.0% long-term stable growth rate.

Our analysis incorporates the cash on the $AAPL balance sheet – Valuecruncher calculates a net debt number.

Comparator Analysis

Comparator analysis (sometimes called comparison company analysis) is a relative valuation approach. At Valuecruncher we have previously looked at comparator analysis. For $AAPL we looked at a range of broad peers. We calculated enterprise values – market capitalisation plus net debt (long-term borrowings less cash). Then we measured a range of metrics against the enterprise value for $AAPL and the peer set.

We have used the last financial year (LFY) as the base set of metrics. Of the peer group $EBAY and $YHOO had rough LFY performance. The other numbers are interesting. The one that stands out a mile to us however is that $AAPL is currently trading at 7.0x last years free cash flow (FCF). Remove the cash and you can have the business for 7.0x last years FCF – no growth assumed. Wow – that looks cheap.

Using our valuation of US$109.55 that gives a EV/FCF multiple of 8.7x. That is still pretty resonable compared to the peer set.

Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say?

Disclosure: None



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Valuation In Times Of Turmoil

Monday, October 13th, 2008

It has been a week of financial market turmoil. The Dow is closed at 8,451 on Friday – over 40% below the 52-week high of 14,279 and down 18% for last week alone. There are a lot of very smart people concerned that the markets and broader global economy are headed for a long-term slump. Within this turmoil there is a lot of discussion about valuation. Here at Valuecruncher we wanted to explain our take on valuation and the analysis we provide.

Here at Valuecruncher we believe that in the long-run markets are broadly efficient – market prices properly reflect the intrinsic value of assets. By intrinsic value we mean a ‘true’ underlying value. However, in the short-term there can be and are inefficiencies. At Valuecruncher, valuation is an attempt to estimate what this intrinsic value is and how it relates to current market prices. At Valuecruncher we do that by calculating a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation. As we noted, in the longer-term we believe that markets will price assets at this intrinsic value. In the shorter term market prices may differ (either up or down). Our approach is a longer term approach. If someone is looking for a valuation of where a stock will be this week – a DCF isn’t the way to go. However, if you want to understand the underlying value of a stock relative the market price and have a longer-term view – that is where a DCF adds value.

For example: Apple ($AAPL). On 4 June 2008 with the $AAPL share price at US$186.10 our estimate of the $AAPL intrinsic value was US$146.70. By 23 September 2008 with the $AAPL share price at US$131.05 our estimate of the $AAPL intrinsic value was US$163.98. $AAPL closed on Friday at US$96.80. In just over four months the market price of $AAPL has dropped 48% – dramatic times indeed. Our estimate of intrinsic value has changed based on changing assumptions of the underlying business. But what we are trying to estimate is the intrinsic value – and we have argued it is both below and above the prevailing share price of $AAPL over the last four months.

At Valuecruncher we will continue to put out our take on the intrinsic value of companies like $AAPL and how this relates to the current share price. Our on-line interactive valuation models allow anyone to change our assumptions and calculate their own intrinsic value. In our own analysis we are going to try and avoid rhetoric like “buy”, “sell”, “cheap” and “expensive”. Ours is a longer-term analysis. We still believe that in the long-run that market prices and intrinsic value will eventually converge.

Understanding intrinsic value helps us to understand corporate transactions like share buy-backs. It can illuminate mergers and acquisitions activity. It can even expose opportunities to invest (and dispose) of stocks.

After a wild week we expect there are still some brave souls out there trying at assess value.

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Running The Numbers – Apple (AAPL) Looks Cheap

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

The on-going turmoil in the markets and analysts lowering estimates across the technology sector has had a big impact on Apple’s (AAPL) share price.  AAPL finished at US$131.05 on the 22 September 2008 – 35% below the 52 week high of US$202.96.  We decided to look at the underlying numbers for AAPL using the Valuecruncher on-line valuation model to see where we place the current share price.

Valuecruncher valuation model of AAPL with interactive assumptions

Valuecruncher produces a valuation of US$163.98 for AAPL.  This is a current valuation not a target price.  This valuation is 25% above the current share price of US$131.05 (note our model picks up an earlier price of US$140.91 because we completed the valuation earlier).

Assumptions

Our assumptions are revenues of US$32.5 billion in 2008 growing to US$50.0 billion in 2010. We have used an EBITDA margin of 20.5% in 2008 dropping to 19.5% in 2010. We used a terminal growth rate of 5.75%. We used a terminal capital expenditure number of US$1.25 billion. We have used a WACC (discount rate) of 10.0%.  All of these assumptions can be amended in the Valuecruncher on-line valuation model to adjust the valuation.

Our analysis incorporates the cash on the Apple balance sheet – Valuecruncher calculates a net debt number.

Based on our analysis the current share price looks cheap.  Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say?

Valuecruncher has a database of over 1,000 companies on major international exchanges. You can explore, create and share valuations for any of these companies.

View the full AAPL chart at Wikinvest

 

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Below US$150 a share Apple (AAPL) looks a buy

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

With the release of Apple’s (AAPL) latest quarterly results the share price headed to the US$150 a share range in after-hours trading. Valuecruncher did a valuation for Apple in early June that put a base case valuation on AAPL of US$146.70 – 21% below the then share price of US$186.10. With AAPL moving into the range of our previous valuation – we decided to review our valuation using the Valuecruncher on-line valuation tool.

Apple (AAPL) Valuation Assumptions

Our assumptions are revenues of US$32.8 billion in 2008 growing to US$50.0 billion in 2010. We have used a flat EBITDA margin of 21% from 2008. We used a terminal growth rate of 5.75%. We used a terminal capital expenditure number of US$1.0 billion. We have used a WACC (discount rate) of 11.0%.

Valuecruncher valuation model of Apple (AAPL) with interactive assumptions

Our valuation comes out at US$149.75 per share. This is in-line with the current share price.

Our analysis incorporates the cash on the Apple balance sheet – Valuecruncher calculates a net debt number.

Apple is a great company with incredibly innovative products that consumers all around the world want desperately. That is a position that must be envied by all their competitors in the technology space and beyond.

Warren Buffett’s famous quote is “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price”. At around US$150 a share – in our view Apple fits that criteria. Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say?

Valuecruncher has a database of over 1,000 companies on major international exchanges. You can explore, create and share valuations for any of these companies.

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Getting Apple to $200 a share

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

With the WWDC set for June 9-13and the current AAPL share price of $186.10 – we are being asked about whether we see a $200 share price for AAPL in the near term. Now the AAPL share price may reach $200 in the near future – there are a lot of Apple fans out there. Our concern is what business fundamentals would be required to make this $200 appear a reasonable price?

At Valuecruncher we decided to have a look at the underlying financial performance of AAPL required to get to a $200 share price using our models. We have used the Valuecruncher interactive tool for analysing the company. That means that anyone can follow the links below and amend our valuations. We started by creating a base case valuation of AAPL – using assumptions we believe are reasonable.

AAPL Base Case

Our assumptions are revenues of US$32.8 billion in 2008 growing to US$48.0 billion in 2010. We have used a flat EBITDA margin of 21% from 2008. We have used a terminal growth rate of 5.75%. We calculated that using a present value calculation with the growth rate dropping from 17.5% in 2011 to 3.5% in 2015 (the current projected growth from 2009 to 2010 is 18-20%). We used a terminal capital expenditure number of US$900 million. We have used a WACC (discount rate) of 11.0%.

Valuecruncher Base Case Valuation AAPL

Our analysis gives a share price of $146.70 which is approximately 21% below the current share price of $186.10.

AAPL At $200

To move the valuation we looked at three key levers:

1. The discount rate (or weighted average cost of capital – WACC). This is a measure of the variability (both up and down) of the cash flows generated by AAPL. The more variable the cash flows the higher the discount rate. Because we are trying to get the valuation to $200 we looked at lowering the discount rate from our base case 11.0%. If we lower the base case discount rate to 10.0% (keeping all the other assumptions constant) we increase our valuation to $175.53 (a 20% increase – but still below the current share price).

2. The terminal growth (the rate of growth into the future beyond our three-year forecast period). At Valuecruncher we use a present value calculation to determine this growth rate (the present value of five years of cash flows beyond our three years of forecasts and an economy wide terminal rate – 3.5%). In our base case the 2009 to 2010 growth rate is expected to be 18-20% – based on analyst estimates. We used a 17.5% growth rate in 2011 dropping to a terminal rate of 3.5% from 2015. In this case we used a 25% growth rate in 2011 (this is above current 2009/10 forecasts of 18-20%) dropping to a terminal rate of 3.5% in 2015 – this gives a terminal growth rate of 6.25% compared to 5.75% in the base case. If we increase the terminal growth rate to 6.25% (keeping all the other assumptions constant) we increase our valuation to $159.11 (an 8% increase).

3. The terminal capital expenditure (CAPEX). This is the investment in plant, equipment and technology needed to maintain and grow the cash produced by the business expressed in revenues and profits. In our base case we used a US$900 million terminal CAPEX number. If we reduce this by US$100 million we increase our valuation to $148.49 (a 1% increase).

However if we adjust all three of these levers at the same time – discount rate to 10%, terminal growth to 6.25% and terminal CAPEX to US$800 million (while keeping all the other base case assumptions constant) – we do get close to $200 a share. The combination of those adjustments to our base case valuation is shown in the link below to a new valuation created using the Valuecruncher valuation tool. The result is a valuation of $197.63 – this is 35% above our base case valuation and 6% above the current share price.

Valuecruncher Adjusted Valuation AAPL

Our view is that this adjusted valuation appears optimistic. Play with our assumptions – what does your analysis say?

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