Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH) Intrinsic Value

DCF-based fair value calculation with Bear, Base, and Bull scenarios

Popular:

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH)

View Full Profile →

Intrinsic Value (DCF)

Current$109.10
Intrinsic$31.23
-71%
$8.98$31.23$73.51
Market implies 29% growth for 5 years
Current price reflects execution expectations above 9% growth — not unreasonable for quality businesses.
At $109, the market prices in continued strong cash flow growth (29%) — likely reflecting buybacks, margin stability, and ecosystem strength.
Range: Bear $9 → Bull $74. Current price implies expectations above the base case, closer to bull expectations.
Discount ↓Growth →5%7%9%11%
8%$45$52$60$69
10%$20$26$31$37
12%$7$11$15$20
14%$0$2$5$8

Bull Case

  • Bull case ($74) with 11% growth, 9% discount rate
  • Conservative 9% growth assumption is achievable based on track record

Bear Case

  • Bear case ($9) implies 92% downside at 7% growth, 12% discount
  • Price reflects 29% growth expectations vs 9% historical — high bar to clear
  • Trading 71% above base case — execution must exceed assumptions to justify
Loading charts...

5-Year Free Cash Flow Projection

Year 1$189.64M
Year 2$207.22M
Year 3$226.43M
Year 4$247.42M
Year 5$270.36M
Terminal$3.98B

📐 Model Inputs

Growth Rate9.3%5Y CAGR (cascade: 5Y→3Y→TTM)
Discount Rate10.0%WACC estimate
Terminal Growth3.0%Perpetuity rate
Base Free Cash Flow$173.55MTTM actual
Bear g×0.8, r+2%
Base Historical CAGR
Bull g×1.2, r−1.5%
ℹ️

DCF estimates based on historical growth rates extrapolated forward. See FAQ below for full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CHH stock undervalued or overvalued?
🔴 OVERVALUED

CHH trades at $109.10 vs. our DCF-derived intrinsic value of $31.23, implying -70% downside. Using a 10.0% WACC and 9.3% FCF growth assumption, the current price requires growth rates above our estimates to be justified. Even our bull case ($58.24) suggests limited upside.

What is CHH's intrinsic value?

Using a 5-year DCF model: Base FCF of $174M, projected at 9.3% 5Y CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth), discounted at 10.0% WACC, with 3.0% terminal growth. Terminal value calculated via Gordon Growth Model: TV = FCF₅ × (1+g) / (WACC−g). After deducting $1.85B net debt and dividing by 0.05B shares: Bear $11.26 | Base $31.23 | Bull $58.24. Current price $109.10 implies -70% to base case.

How is CHH's fair value calculated?

DCF Methodology:

① Project FCF years 1-5 using 9.3% growth derived from 5-year historical CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth, with 8% floor and 25% cap).

② Calculate terminal value at year 5 using perpetuity growth model with g=3.0%.

③ Discount all cash flows to PV using WACC=10.0%.

④ Sum PV of explicit period + PV of terminal value = Enterprise Value ($3.32B).

⑤ Subtract net debt, divide by shares outstanding.

Sensitivity analysis available above—adjust WACC ±2% or growth ±3% to stress-test the valuation. Implied EV/FCF multiple: 19.1x.