Stock Analysis on Net
Stock Analysis on Net

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)

Present Value of Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE)

Microsoft Excel

In discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation techniques the value of the stock is estimated based upon present value of some measure of cash flow. Free cash flow to equity (FCFE) is generally described as cash flows available to the equity holder after payments to debt holders and after allowing for expenditures to maintain the company asset base.

Intrinsic Stock Value (Valuation Summary)

Caterpillar Inc., free cash flow to equity (FCFE) forecast

US$ in millions, except per share data

Microsoft Excel
Year Value FCFEt or Terminal value (TVt) Calculation Present value at 15.11%
01 FCFE0 11,168
1 FCFE1 13,681 = 11,168 × (1 + 22.50%) 11,885
2 FCFE2 16,281 = 13,681 × (1 + 19.01%) 12,288
3 FCFE3 18,808 = 16,281 × (1 + 15.52%) 12,332
4 FCFE4 21,070 = 18,808 × (1 + 12.03%) 12,002
5 FCFE5 22,869 = 21,070 × (1 + 8.54%) 11,317
5 Terminal value (TV5) 377,996 = 22,869 × (1 + 8.54%) ÷ (15.11% – 8.54%) 187,060
Intrinsic value of Caterpillar Inc. common stock 246,884
 
Intrinsic value of Caterpillar Inc. common stock (per share) $511.36
Current share price $382.33

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).

1 See details »

Disclaimer!
Valuation is based on standard assumptions. There may exist specific factors relevant to stock value and omitted here. In such a case, the real stock value may differ significantly form the estimated. If you want to use the estimated intrinsic stock value in investment decision making process, do so at your own risk.

Required Rate of Return (r)

Microsoft Excel
Assumptions
Rate of return on LT Treasury Composite1 RF 4.65%
Expected rate of return on market portfolio2 E(RM) 13.79%
Systematic risk of Caterpillar Inc. common stock βCAT 1.14
 
Required rate of return on Caterpillar Inc. common stock3 rCAT 15.11%

1 Unweighted average of bid yields on all outstanding fixed-coupon U.S. Treasury bonds neither due or callable in less than 10 years (risk-free rate of return proxy).

2 See details »

3 rCAT = RF + βCAT [E(RM) – RF]
= 4.65% + 1.14 [13.79% – 4.65%]
= 15.11%

FCFE Growth Rate (g)

FCFE growth rate (g) implied by PRAT model

Caterpillar Inc., PRAT model

Microsoft Excel
Average Dec 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Dividends declared 2,599 2,473 2,374 2,247 2,210
Profit attributable to common stockholders 10,335 6,705 6,489 2,998 6,093
Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation 63,869 56,574 48,188 39,022 50,755
Total assets 87,476 81,943 82,793 78,324 78,453
Equity attributable to common shareholders 19,494 15,869 16,484 15,331 14,588
Financial Ratios
Retention rate1 0.75 0.63 0.63 0.25 0.64
Profit margin2 16.18% 11.85% 13.47% 7.68% 12.00%
Asset turnover3 0.73 0.69 0.58 0.50 0.65
Financial leverage4 4.49 5.16 5.02 5.11 5.38
Averages
Retention rate 0.58
Profit margin 12.24%
Asset turnover 0.63
Financial leverage 5.03
 
FCFE growth rate (g)5 22.50%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).

2023 Calculations

1 Retention rate = (Profit attributable to common stockholders – Dividends declared) ÷ Profit attributable to common stockholders
= (10,335 – 2,599) ÷ 10,335
= 0.75

2 Profit margin = 100 × Profit attributable to common stockholders ÷ Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation
= 100 × 10,335 ÷ 63,869
= 16.18%

3 Asset turnover = Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation ÷ Total assets
= 63,869 ÷ 87,476
= 0.73

4 Financial leverage = Total assets ÷ Equity attributable to common shareholders
= 87,476 ÷ 19,494
= 4.49

5 g = Retention rate × Profit margin × Asset turnover × Financial leverage
= 0.58 × 12.24% × 0.63 × 5.03
= 22.50%

FCFE growth rate (g) implied by single-stage model

g = 100 × (Equity market value0 × r – FCFE0) ÷ (Equity market value0 + FCFE0)
= 100 × (184,590 × 15.11% – 11,168) ÷ (184,590 + 11,168)
= 8.54%

where:
Equity market value0 = current market value of Caterpillar Inc. common stock (US$ in millions)
FCFE0 = the last year Caterpillar Inc. free cash flow to equity (US$ in millions)
r = required rate of return on Caterpillar Inc. common stock

FCFE growth rate (g) forecast

Caterpillar Inc., H-model

Microsoft Excel
Year Value gt
1 g1 22.50%
2 g2 19.01%
3 g3 15.52%
4 g4 12.03%
5 and thereafter g5 8.54%

where:
g1 is implied by PRAT model
g5 is implied by single-stage model
g2, g3 and g4 are calculated using linear interpoltion between g1 and g5

Calculations

g2 = g1 + (g5 – g1) × (2 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 22.50% + (8.54% – 22.50%) × (2 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 19.01%

g3 = g1 + (g5 – g1) × (3 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 22.50% + (8.54% – 22.50%) × (3 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 15.52%

g4 = g1 + (g5 – g1) × (4 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 22.50% + (8.54% – 22.50%) × (4 – 1) ÷ (5 – 1)
= 12.03%