Are CBA shares worth considering in February?

Core Viewpoint - The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) share price is under scrutiny as investors attempt to establish a valuation for the bank amidst fluctuating market conditions [1][2] Valuation Methods - The Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratio is a common method for valuing bank shares, comparing the share price to earnings per share [3] - Investors can use intuition, sector comparisons, or earnings multiples to assess the PE ratio [4] - CBA's current share price is $174.45, with an earnings per share of $5.63, resulting in a PE ratio of 31x, compared to the banking sector average of 20x [5] Dividend Discount Model (DDM) - The Dividend Discount Model (DDM) is a robust valuation method for banks, relying on past or forecasted dividends and a risk rate [6][7] - The formula for DDM is Share price = full-year dividend / (risk rate – dividend growth rate) [8] - Using a blended growth rate and risk rate between 6% and 11%, the DDM valuation for CBA shares ranges from $98.33 to $100.66, compared to the current share price of $174.45 [10] Adjusted Valuation - Considering fully franked dividends, the valuation based on a gross dividend payment of $6.80 results in a share price valuation of $143.80 [11] Growth and Risk Rate Analysis - Various growth and risk rate scenarios yield different valuations, with a 2% growth rate and a 6% risk rate suggesting a valuation of $119.00, while a 4% growth rate and an 11% risk rate suggest a valuation of $52.89 [12] Additional Considerations - Investors should assess net interest margins, regulatory impacts on non-interest income, and the management team's effectiveness when evaluating CBA [13]