Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI) Intrinsic Value

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

Popular:

Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI)

View Full Profile →

Intrinsic Value (DCF)

Current$100.73
Intrinsic$48.43
-52%
$31.68$48.43$80.27
Market implies 26% growth for 5 years
Current price reflects execution expectations above 9% growth — not unreasonable for quality businesses.
At $101, the market prices in continued strong cash flow growth (26%) — likely reflecting buybacks, margin stability, and ecosystem strength.
Range: Bear $32 → Bull $80. Current price implies expectations above the base case, closer to bull expectations.
Discount ↓Growth →5%7%9%11%
8%$58$64$70$77
10%$40$44$48$53
12%$30$33$36$40
14%$24$26$29$31

Bull Case

  • Bull case ($80) with 11% growth, 9% discount rate
  • Conservative 9% growth assumption is achievable based on track record

Bear Case

  • Bear case ($32) implies 69% downside at 7% growth, 12% discount
  • Price reflects 26% growth expectations vs 9% historical — high bar to clear
  • Trading 52% above base case — execution must exceed assumptions to justify
Loading charts...

5-Year Free Cash Flow Projection

Year 1$369.83M
Year 2$402.40M
Year 3$437.84M
Year 4$476.40M
Year 5$518.35M
Terminal$7.63B

📐 Model Inputs

Growth Rate8.8%5Y CAGR (cascade: 5Y→3Y→TTM)
Discount Rate10.0%WACC estimate
Terminal Growth3.0%Perpetuity rate
Base Free Cash Flow$339.90MTTM 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 DCI stock undervalued or overvalued?
🔴 OVERVALUED

DCI trades at $100.73 vs. our DCF-derived intrinsic value of $48.43, implying -47% downside. Using a 10.0% WACC and 8.8% FCF growth assumption, the current price requires growth rates above our estimates to be justified. Even our bull case ($68.48) suggests limited upside.

What is DCI's intrinsic value?

Using a 5-year DCF model: Base FCF of $340M, projected at 8.8% 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 $550M net debt and dividing by 0.12B shares: Bear $33.55 | Base $48.43 | Bull $68.48. Current price $100.73 implies -47% to base case.

How is DCI's fair value calculated?

DCF Methodology:

① Project FCF years 1-5 using 8.8% 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 ($6.38B).

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: 18.8x.