Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts Inc earns a 5-star quantitative star rating, indicating our belief that this share class offers a compelling opportunity for investors. The stock currently trades at a 11% discount to our quantitative fair value estimate of $156.83 per share; however, some caution is warranted due to this estimate's medium uncertainty rating.

The firm's balance sheet bolsters our fair value estimate. Leverage can enable a company to invest in growth, potentially boosting shareholder value more than equity financing alone. For example, the firm's EBITDA/interest coverage ratio of 3.6 falls in the bottom 30% compared with global peers. Although the firm's ability to cover interest payments with EBITDA is limited, shares could sharply rebound if economic circumstances change or recent investments reduce fears of default. We believe this is a sign that shares could be undervalued.

The firm's favorable dividend structure is an additional encouraging factor. Dividends represent a stable form of future cash flows returned to shareholders, reducing the perceived risk of a business. The firm's forward dividend yield of 6.4%, for example, sits in the top 10% compared with global peers. Expected dividend payments over the coming year relative to the current share price are favorable, which further promotes our favorable price/fair value ratio.

In addition to the aforementioned drivers, our model considers momentum as part of its comprehensive analysis. This share class has outperformed the broader universe over the past year. While we believe the stock is undervalued, this outperformance had a negative impact on our valuation estimate.

The company's narrow economic moat rating suggests it should be able to maintain robust profitability for a decade or longer before competition erodes its advantage. In addition, the company's moderate financial health score is decent and doesn't seriously concern us with regard to financial distress.