What Is Intrinsic Value And Why Is It Important In Investing?

If you wanted to know the value of a certain stock, how would you go about finding it? Would you simply look at the stock's share price? You could, but this price fluctuates with the natural ebs and flows of the stock market.

When we want to know the value of a stock or asset, independent of the broader market, we must look at its intrinsic value. The intrinsic value of a stock refers to the true worth of a company's stock based on its fundamentals and future cash flows.

What is intrinsic value?

Intrinsic value is the inherent worth of an asset. This evaluation is based on its fundamental characteristics and potential future cash flows or benefits. It is independent of market conditions or external influences.

Intrinsic value is often used to assess the 'true' value of a stock or investment, considering factors like earnings, dividends, and growth prospects. Intrinsic value is distinctively different than extrinsic value, which is determined by external factors like market demand or price trends.

How intrinsic value works

Intrinsic value is derived from fundamental analysis of the company’s financials, growth prospects, and economic factors. It involves assessing earnings, dividends, and future cash flows, discounting them to their present value. This value guides investors in making better informed decisions, comparing the stock's intrinsic value to its current market price.

This approach can help identify potential investment opportunities and help manage risk. If a stock's market price is below its calculated intrinsic value, it may be considered undervalued and a potential buy. On the other hand, if its market price is above its intrinsic value, it might be considered overvalued.

Why intrinsic value matters

Intrinsic value matters because it can provide a more detailed assessment of a stock's worth, beyond market fluctuations and speculation. For investors, understanding intrinsic value may help them to identify potentially undervalued or overvalued stocks, helping to inform their strategic investment decisions. It serves as a benchmark for evaluating if the market price reflects the stock's true potential.

By focusing on fundamentals, such as earnings, growth prospects, and financial health, intrinsic value analysis may help in reducing the risk of buying overhyped or overvalued assets. This long-term perspective helps to foster disciplined investing and aligns investments with the intrinsic potential of the underlying company.

How to calculate intrinsic value of stocks

Calculating the intrinsic value of stocks can be done in several ways. This is because investment perspectives and methodologies can vary from person to person.

The three main methods are:

• Discounted cash flow

• Dividend discount models

• Analysis based on financial metrics such as price-to-earnings ratio.

Each method caters to different aspects of a company's financial health, future potential, and risk tolerance, providing a range of insights for diverse investor goals.

Discounted cash flow analysis

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis involves projecting the future cash flows the company is expected to generate and then discounting them to present value using a discount rate, often the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), which represents a company's cost of capital, with each category of capital (debt and equity) proportionately weighted. This discounting accounts for the time value of money, reflecting the potential risk and return expectations. By summing these discounted cash flows and the terminal value (future cash flows beyond the projection period), DCF provides a comprehensive view of a company's worth, helping to inform investment decisions and strategic planning.

Dividend discount Models

The Dividend Discount Model (DDM) assesses a stock's intrinsic value by estimating the present value of expected future dividends. It assumes that a stock's worth is rooted in its ability to generate consistent dividend payouts to shareholders.

This method is particularly meaningful for evaluating mature, stable companies that regularly distribute profits. By forecasting dividends and applying a discount rate, DDM helps to determine the stock's value based on its income potential. It emphasizes the importance of dividends as a tangible return on investment, making it a favored approach for some income-focused investors seeking reliable, dividend-paying stocks.

Analysis based on financial metrics

Analysis based on financial metrics involves evaluating a company's financial health and performance using specific quantitative measures. Key metrics include the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, which compares a company’s current share price to its earnings per share, indicating potential valuation and growth expectations.

Return on Equity (ROE) measures profitability relative to shareholder equity, showing how efficiently a company generates profits. Debt-to-Equity (D/E) ratio assesses financial leverage and risk by comparing total debt to shareholders' equity. These metrics provide insights into profitability, valuation, efficiency, and risk, enabling investors to make more informed decisions about buying, holding, or selling a stock.

Intrinsic value of options

The intrinsic value of an option represents the immediate profit potential if the option were exercised right now.

For call options, it’s the amount by which the underlying asset’s market price exceeds the strike price.

For put options, it’s the amount by which the strike price exceeds the market price of the underlying asset.

This value is straightforward and based solely on the difference between the strike price and the current market price, disregarding any future potential or time-related aspects of the option. It's important for options traders to understand the importance of intrinsic value as it provides a clear measure of the profitability of an option at any given moment.

By knowing the intrinsic value, traders can assess whether an option is "in the money," where it holds tangible value, or "out of the money," where it holds none. This understanding helps traders make more informed decisions about exercising options or managing their positions based on current market conditions. However, it's crucial to recognize that intrinsic value alone does not encompass the full picture of an option's worth, as factors like time value, implied volatility, and market sentiment also significantly influence its overall pricing and strategic considerations.

How to calculate the intrinsic value of options

Calculating the intrinsic value of options involves determining the immediate value an option would have if exercised right now. For call options, this is the difference between the underlying asset's current price and the option's strike price, if positive. Call option intrinsic value = Underlying stock’s current price – call strike priceFor put options, it's the difference between the strike price and the current asset price, if positive. Put option intrinsic value = Put strike price – underlying stock’s current price

Example

Let’s say a stock is trading at $48. For a call option with a strike price of $40, the intrinsic value would be $8 ($48 - $40). This is because the option holder could buy the stock at $40 and sell it at the current market price of $48, making an $8 profit.

For a put option with a strike price of $50, the intrinsic value would be $2 ($50 - $48). Here, the option holder could sell the stock at $50 while the market price is $48, also resulting in a $2 profit.

Potential benefits and disadvantages

Intrinsic value vs extrinsic value for options: What's the difference?

Intrinsic value and extrinsic value describe different parts of an option's price. Intrinsic value is the "built-in" value of an option, based on how much profit you'd make if you exercised it now. For example, if a call option lets you buy a stock at $50 and it's selling for $60, the intrinsic value is $10.

Extrinsic value, also known as "time value," is the extra amount you pay on top of any intrinsic value for the potential that the option's value might increase before it expires. It's influenced by factors like time left until expiration and market volatility.

FAQ about intrinsic value

What affects the intrinsic value of a stock?

The intrinsic value of a stock is influenced by factors such as its earnings potential, growth prospects, dividends, and overall financial health. Economic conditions, industry trends, interest rates, and investor sentiment play crucial roles in determining intrinsic value. Changes in these factors can impact the perceived worth of a stock based on its fundamental attributes and market expectations.

Is Intrinsic value better than market value for evaluating investments?

Intrinsic value focuses on a stock's fundamental worth based on financial metrics, which may make it useful for some long-term investors seeking undervalued assets. Market value, reflecting current market sentiment, can fluctuate widely and may not always align with intrinsic worth. Both are important, but intrinsic value provides a clearer picture for investors aiming to buy stocks at a discount relative to their "true" value, potentially offering greater returns over time.

What happens if intrinsic value is high?

If intrinsic value is high relative to a stock's market price, it suggests the stock may be undervalued. This scenario can attract value investors looking for opportunities to buy assets below their calculated worth. If intrinsic value exceeds market price significantly, it might indicate the market has yet to recognize the stock's potential. This situation could lead to price appreciation as market perceptions align more closely with the stock's intrinsic value over time.