After reviewing the data, Priceline should satisfy the Enterprising Investor but not the Defensive Investor. The Defensive Investor is concerned with the lack of dividend payments as well as the high PEmg and PB ratios, while the Enterprising Investor’s only issue with the company is the lack of dividends. Therefore, Enterprising Investors should feel very comfortable proceeding to the next part of the analysis, which is a determination of the company’s intrinsic value.
From a valuation side of things, the company has grown its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $7.40 in 2010 to an estimated $35.40 for 2014. This is very strong and impressive level of demonstrated growth which is in line with the market’s implied estimate for earnings growth of 11.98% over the next 7-10 years. In fact, actual historical growth is about 75% per year, clearly unsustainable, but the market is aware of that and has priced in a drop in the level of growth. The ModernGraham valuation model therefore returns an estimate of intrinsic value falling within a margin of safety relative to the current price, indicating the company is fairly valued at the present time.
Be sure to check out previous ModernGraham valuations of Priceline.com Inc. for more perspective!
Read the full valuation on Seeking Alpha!
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