Are CBA shares good value? 2 ways to value them

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the valuation methods for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) shares, focusing on the price-earnings ratio (P/E) and the dividend discount model (DDM) as tools for assessing the bank's share price relative to its earnings and dividends. Valuation Methods - The P/E ratio compares a company's share price to its earnings per share, with a current CBA P/E ratio of 29.5x compared to the banking sector average of 19x, suggesting that CBA shares may be overvalued [5][8] - Analysts can use the principle of mean reversion to estimate a sector-adjusted PE valuation for CBA, resulting in a valuation of $108.93 based on its earnings per share [7][8] Dividend Valuation - The DDM forecasts future dividends instead of profits, with the last year's dividend of $4.65 assumed to grow at a rate of 2% to 4% [10][11] - Using a risk rate between 6% and 11%, the DDM yields a valuation range for CBA shares from $52.89 to $119.00, depending on growth assumptions [12][15] - Adjusting for gross dividends, including franking credits, results in a valuation of $143.80 based on a forecast gross dividend payment of $6.80 [14] Investment Appeal - CBA and other Australian banks are popular due to their reliable dividend history and franking credits, making them attractive for dividend investors [3] - The article emphasizes the importance of using multiple valuation methods and assumptions to account for uncertainty in share price valuations [11][15]