Intel Brief Thoughts and Valuations

Intel (INTC) is another company I bought before doing any type of valuations.  Intel is one of the first companies whose annual and quarterly reports I actually read, and it was noticeable even then with my limited knowledge to see its massive competitive advantages, huge margins, the free cash flow it creates, etc.  The following are descriptions taken from Morningstar.Intel holds long-term advantages over smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices AMD in the microprocessor industry. While there have been rising fears that Intel may have trouble competing against emerging processor design firm ARM ARMH, we believe such panic has been blown out of proportion.

Intel is the largest chipmaker in the world. It develops and manufactures microprocessors and platform solutions for the global personal computer market. Intel pioneered the x86 architecture for microprocessors.

Asset Valuations

• With intangible assets and goodwill: $7.95 per share.
• Without intangible assets and goodwill: $6.71 per share.

EBIT and Net Cash Valuations

• Intel has $0.60 in net cash per share.
• 5X=$19.00 per share.
• 8X=$28.82 per share.
• 11X=$38.65 per share.
• 14X=$48.47 per share.

Revenue and EBIT Valuations

• 5X=$14.23 per share.
• 8X=$22.03 per share.
• 11X=$29.82 per share.
• 14X=$37.61 per share.

Operating Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Valuations

• Low estimate=$12.05 per share.
• Base estimate=$17.62 per share.
• High estimate=$23.18 per share.

Price to Book and Tangible Book Valuations

• Low estimate=$11.51 per share.
• Base estimate=$16.82 per share.
• High estimate=$22.14 per share.

Debt Ratios

• Current assets to current liabilities=2.45.
• Total debt to equity=14.7%.
• Total debt to total assets=9.9%.

Intel’s current only competitor in the computer chip area is AMD who has always been a distant second place to INTC.  Also of note is that AMD’s CFO just resigned which is never a good sign.  Intel has also been increasing its business in the server arena where it also has huge competitive advantages and controls a big chunk of the space.

The only area where Intel has been struggling recently has been in the tablet and smart phone arenas, with Intel having to play catch up to Arm Holdings (ARMH) who was first and best in those areas.  Intel appears to be catching up to ARMH in the tablet and smart phone business segments as it currently has its chips in three smart phones, it will also have its chips in the upcoming Motorola Razr I, the Razr I will launch in October in Europe and Latin America, and its first Intel Powered tablets are going to be coming out in November.

Intel’s huge competitive advantages, size, and balance sheet have enabled it to catch up to ARMH and I think it will soon surpass Arm Holdings in the mobile processor arena and extend its dominance into new profitable business segments.

Knowing what I know about Intel, its huge competitive advantages, gigantic margins, etc, I have decided to use the 11X EBIT and cash valuation, $38.65 per share, as my estimate of intrinsic value, a 40% margin of safety as its current share price is $23.32 per share.

Even if I were to use the 8X EBIT and cash valuation as my estimate of intrinsic value just to be safe, $28.82, that gets us to a 19% margin of safety.  I think the 8X estimate of value is too conservative with Intel’s massive competitive advantages, however.

My current cost basis in Intel is $19.90 per share.  Again a bit fortunate to be up anything since I did not do any type of valuations before I originally bought into them.  With all of the above stated I am going to continue to hold Intel for the long term and have my investment compound hopefully years and decades into the future.

I will also look for opportunities when the stock price is at a healthy margin of safety to continue to add shares to my portfolio and for the portfolios that I manage, now looks like it would be a good entry point, and I will update when and if I buy any more stock in INTC.