
Find out why Novo Nordisk's -38.1% return over the last year is lagging behind its peers.
A Discounted Cash Flow model projects the cash a business may generate in the future and then discounts those amounts back to today to estimate what the entire company could be worth now.
For Novo Nordisk, the model uses a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach in DKK. The latest twelve month free cash flow is DKK 52.1b. Analyst and extrapolated projections suggest free cash flow of DKK 45.3b in 2026 and DKK 111.1b in 2030, with further estimates running out to 2035, all discounted back to today using Simply Wall St’s methodology.
Pulling these discounted cash flows together, the DCF model arrives at an estimated intrinsic value of US$106.85 per share. Compared with the recent share price of US$36.91, this implies the stock screens as 65.5% undervalued on this model alone.
This is a large gap. If you put weight on long term cash flow projections and the assumptions behind them, Novo Nordisk currently looks attractively priced on a DCF basis.
Result: UNDERVALUED
Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Novo Nordisk is undervalued by 65.5%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio, or discover 61 more high quality undervalued stocks.
For profitable companies like Novo Nordisk, the P/E ratio is a useful yardstick because it ties the share price directly to the earnings you are effectively paying for. Investors usually expect higher P/E ratios when a company has stronger earnings growth prospects or lower perceived risk, and lower P/E ratios when growth expectations or confidence are weaker.
Novo Nordisk currently trades on a P/E of 10.19x, compared with the Pharmaceuticals industry average of 16.55x and a peer group average of 17.80x. Simply Wall St also calculates a proprietary “Fair Ratio” for the stock of 25.79x. This reflects what the P/E might reasonably be given factors such as its earnings growth profile, industry, profit margins, market cap and risk characteristics.
This Fair Ratio aims to be more tailored than a simple comparison with peers or the wider industry, because it adjusts for company specific features rather than assuming all businesses deserve similar multiples. Set against this Fair Ratio, Novo Nordisk’s current P/E suggests the stock is pricing in a lower multiple than the model implies.
Result: UNDERVALUED
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Earlier we mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation. Narratives on Simply Wall St let you attach your own story about Novo Nordisk to the numbers by linking your view of its products, competition and risks to a forecast for revenue, earnings and margins, and then to a Fair Value that you can compare with today’s price to inform your decision. That Fair Value updates automatically when fresh news or earnings arrive. One investor might build a more optimistic Novo Nordisk Narrative with a Fair Value near US$95 per ADR, while another might take a more cautious stance with a Fair Value closer to US$65.50, reflecting how different perspectives on the same company translate into different numbers.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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