How to Value a Stock with Reverse DCF
How to value stocks series
For other posts in the series, follow the links below.
- How to value a stock with DCF Method
- How to value a stock with Benjamin Graham Formula
- How to value a stock with Reverse DCF
- How to value a stock with EPV
Reverse DCF and its advantages over DCF valuation
Disadvantages of Discounted Cash Flow Valuation
I am a fan of the discounted cash flow valuation method. It isn’t perfect, but it also isn’t as horrible as a lot of people make it out to be. With everything, there is a strength and weakness. As long as you are aware of each, a DCF model is a valuable tool to have in your belt.
But first, let’s quickly go over the main weaknesses of DCF.
1. Projecting Future Cash Flow
All evidence points out that humans cannot predict. This is no different when it comes to projecting the future cash flow of the business. There is too much uncertainty when trying to forecast and you are also basing the future values based on past results.
With such forecasting, a small error can result in a drastic change in the DCF valuation.
2. Calculating a Proper Discount Rate
Unless you have a good understanding of what a discount rate is, this value can lead to inaccurate assumptions. A big problem is that you may end up playing around with the discount rate to match the intrinsic value you are seeking.
3. Predicting Growth Rates
The main problem with determining a feasible growth rate is that a DCF will simulate the growth rate to be on-going. Unless you apply multiple stage DCF valuations, a single growth rate is usually used to project the growth for the next 10 years.
In my own stock valuation spreadsheets, I use a decay to reduce the growth rate every certain number of years. It’s not a 2 stage or 3 stage DCF model, but similar and simpler.
Reverse DCF Overview
What the reverse DCF attempts to do in order to improve from the reputation of its twin, is to eliminate the need to forecast.
Instead of starting with a given year’s FCF, and then projecting towards an unknown, the purpose of the reverse discounted cash flow is to calculate what growth rate the market is applying to the current stock price.
In other words, by working backwards, you can see whether the implied growth rate by the market is higher or lower than what the company is capable of.
Let’s see how it is actually done.
But before I continue, click on the image below to get the best investment checklist to help you organize your thoughts.
Reverse DCF Valuation of Microsoft (MSFT)
Using the DCF model from the premium stock valuation spreadsheets, set the discount rate to 9%.
My rule of thumb for large caps is to calculate the discount rate as
discount rate = risk free rate + risk premium
with the current risk free rate being approx 3.5%
large cap discount rate = 3.5% + 5% = 8.5%
and you can round up the 8.5% to 9%.
Now that you have the discount rate set to 9%, play around with the growth rate until you get a value that matches the current price.
On my spreadsheet, the growth rate has to be set to -2.6% for the reverse DCF valuation to match the current stock price.
(The -2.6% value should be used as a ballpark figure and not the gospel as my spreadsheets contains more customization than a regular straight line DCF.)
Click to enlarge image.
Reverse DCF MSFT
Here, you see that the market is currently pricing MSFT to have negative growth. Whether this is true or not is up to you, but it is definitely hard to imagine a free cash flow machine like MSFT shrinking year over year.
However, recent news of the drop in Windows OS sales and the purchase of Skype could very well prove to be an indication of a slowly declining business.
Reverse DCF Valuation of Cisco (CSCO)
With all the negative press and sentiment on CSCO, it couldn’t be more hated on Wall Street than now.
Sticking with the same discount rate of 9% as MSFT, the implied growth for CSCO is at a jaw dropping -9.6%
Again, this is a ball park figure, give +/- 2% to the final value.
The more important question now, is whether the business of CSCO really is going to continue slide at such speed.
Initial thoughts lead me to believe the answer is no.
Reverse DCF as a Point of Reference
So that’s how easy a reverse DCF can be applied. Just match the intrinsic value to the current price and ask yourself whether the growth rate makes any sense.
It simplifies the DCF thought process and output from “what is the future growth rate?”, to “is the expected growth rate realistic?”.
Always remember that the growth rate you end up with is a frame of reference that will help you with your research, NOT the reference point or the deciding factor in concluding whether a stock is cheap or not.
