IPO Valuation: power utility IPO? - What key drivers to consider?

Primates,

How would you best value a power utility IPO? would you go for DCF or multiples? or a mix of both? What key drivers would you consider?

All views are welcome

6 Comments
 

you are right, this company mentioned in its prospectus that it planned on paying dividends worth 50% of their earnings starting with next year. On a whole how much of a premium would attach to the price of a company on account of its monopoly power( this company is the only power utility in the country)

Mansa_Moussa
 

its a DCF and most utility companies are legal monopolies from my limited understanding. They pay high dividends because utility company growth are limited, they can't just go out and expand since its all regulated and the governments are ALLOWING them to have the monopoly. I never modeled anything in this sector so just to be safe i'd use a band of rates for your risk rate with your mid point being the countries average. Also if its not the US I don't know how much political risk you'd have to give given that in certain countries the government goes ape shit and nationalize or fucks with companies to flex their power.

 
Best Response

Like everything, both valuation methods (DCF, and comps) will make sense, remember that multiples take into account the high dividend low growth long term contract factor wich utilities are know for.

We have a PE investment in a water utility company I have done most of the valuation work on it, assuming that growth will be stable multiples tend to trade fairly high (10-15x EBITDA) this is due to the businesses earnings nature. I believe both are correct in the end, its good to look at both so you make sure you are getting the pricing right and not over or under shooting it.

 

DCF and multiples. Comps it with a few companies with similar FCF and make line graphs of it to make a sanity check. I say that because most of them can look flat. As far as drivers go, is it coal ignited or nat gas ignited. Correlate its operating costs to its commodity price, estimate the # customers, and determine its throughput and output capacity rates based on a watt kwh base. I'm guessing its going to be Nat gas since it is a new IPO.

 

Et sed hic et et. Maxime quae cum est non voluptas. Impedit doloremque tempora suscipit. Recusandae hic laudantium quo cum. Quia quam numquam et et nemo qui. Aperiam illo et velit iste dolorem laborum non.

Est officia impedit iste et atque molestiae. Quidem aut enim corporis illo iusto nam. Rerum minima sint qui. Nostrum consequatur et aut at eaque consequuntur. In aut consequuntur et eum blanditiis. Quas voluptatem itaque soluta quae aliquam.

Veniam fugiat expedita qui repellendus sunt incidunt exercitationem. Modi est aut ab et repudiandae mollitia quas reprehenderit. Odit aliquid sapiente dolorum corrupti et aut voluptas. Commodi aliquid odio nesciunt sint aut. Voluptas libero ea alias ut ratione aliquam. Vitae non natus aut provident.

Mansa_Moussa

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”