LVHM Stock Investing Analysis + Intrinsic Value
Watch on YouTubeVideo summary
The video provides a comprehensive analysis of Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH, focusing on its current market position and the factors driving its recent significant decline. The stock has dropped by approximately 53% from its previous highs, a move that many investors view as an opportunity to double their money if the company returns to its former valuation levels. This downturn is largely attributed to a slowdown in luxury spending and rising interest rates, which have dampened consumer enthusiasm for high-end goods like Gucci and Tiffany's. The presenter notes that while the business remains fundamentally strong with great margins, low debt, and robust cash flow generation, the market sentiment has shifted negatively due to uncertainty about whether the post-pandemic boom in luxury consumption will sustain itself or revert to more normal levels.
A key argument presented is the relationship between earnings growth and the company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which currently sits at multi-decade lows. Historically, when LVMH experienced strong growth, its P/E ratio would expand to around 30, whereas a lack of growth sees it contract to between 10 and 15. The intrinsic value of the stock is heavily dependent on future growth rates; if the company can achieve a growth rate of 7% or higher, it could be considered undervalued, offering significant upside potential. Conversely, if growth slows to around 4-5%, the stock would be fairly priced for a modest long-term return, but investors must decide if they are comfortable with the current dividend yield alone without expecting substantial capital appreciation. The analysis highlights that while the company has returned billions to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, its future valuation is still tethered to the health of global luxury retail, particularly in key markets like China.
The transcript concludes by emphasizing the high-risk nature of investing in LVMH at these levels, as the outcome hinges entirely on whether the luxury market recovers or continues to struggle. If the current economic exuberance and spending habits persist, there is a clear path for the stock to double within a few years, potentially delivering returns of 10% to 20% annually. However, if a crisis hits or consumer sentiment remains weak, the stock could easily halve in value, limiting upside potential even further. The presenter advises that while the downside risk is contained by the dividend yield and low valuation metrics, the investment carries significant uncertainty regarding future spending trends. Ultimately, the video suggests that LVMH is currently fairly priced but represents a high-risk opportunity where investors must be prepared for volatility, making it suitable only for those who can handle the possibility of both substantial gains and severe losses depending on how the luxury sector evolves over the next few years.
Read the full video transcript
a lot of requests over time for Louis
Vuitton stock. Let's check it. When
there are a lot of requests, it's
usually because the stock is down
significantly from previous highs and
everybody wants just to quickly double
their money if this returns to the
previous highs. In this video, we're
going to discuss the chances for that to
happen. That can always happen. Bear
that in mind. The P ratio is at
multi-deade lows. Every time it was this
low, it was a great time to buy a
company like this. If we look at the
business, the luxury retailer, so they
have a little bit of everything. This is
H1 sales, 2 and a half billion, likely
more as the second part of the year
comes in. Wine and spirits. Fortunately,
I don't drink alcohol, so I don't know
any of these brands. Then we have
fashion and leather goods. Core of the
business. Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior,
and all the other brands there.
Perfumes, cosmetics, watches and
jewelry. They acquired Tiffany's just a
while ago, Bulgari, and all the other
brands that you see whenever you visit a
bigger city. The retail street is
practically mostly LVMH. Some other
cheaper retailing, Sephora, Lebo Marsh,
things like that. And the key factor for
this business is retail on the streets.
If we go and look at the whole business,
they say the revenue is accelerating
growth in Q2. And that is the key factor
when it comes to investing. If they
return to growth, the P ratio returns to
30. No growth, P ratio 10 to 15. But if
there is any sign of return to growth,
earnings improve, the valuation improves
and you double your money. Well
diversified across the world and it all
depends on how the luxury spending will
go. Great margins, nothing wrong there.
Good net profits despite the uncertain
times. Good cash flow generation, no
debt practically. So very low to the
equity even if we can discuss the true
value of the equity. But okay, let's
discuss the evolution of the financials.
Of course, it was a growth stock. This
is almost 4x over a little bit more than
a decade. And it was priced for that
stability, great profits. Profits were
5x over these 12 years. So when it comes
to such a business, it is priced. So
however, everything changed a little bit
after 2023 and that was also the peak of
the stock that is now significantly
lower, 53% lower. However, if we look at
the situation there, we see here and
there a big acquisition, but most of the
money is returned through dividends and
repurchases, but there is also
significant capital expenditure around 8
billion return to shareholders. So,
what's next for investing in the
company? All these brands will depend on
spending. But for investors, if net
income goes up to 13 billion, P ratio
goes to 30, there you have it. You have
a quick return to where we were before.
Perhaps even 400 to 650, you make your
return. Any kind of growth, this stock
is 50% up. However, if we look at what
the analysts are saying, they are
waiting for a recovery in luxury
spending and questioning whether that
recovery will actually arrive. Luxury
was so luxurious in the stock market
that there is also an index of European
luxury. That is crazy. And we discussed
as Luxotica recently in a quick short
but also there is now softer momentum in
the luxury sector and that's why the
stock is down. If there is any reversal
there you make your money. So this is
always the question when it is better to
buy a stock when the momentum is weaker
and things look ugly and the stock price
is half of what it was or when
everything looks good. And of course
analysts are always citing limited
visibility into the luxury retailers for
the second half of the year. But if in
three years things improve and this
starts to go up, you make your money,
you make 50%. Let's say in year two
that's plus 20% return on investment per
year. We need to know the market for the
next year or two to see whether spending
on luxury things will go up.
Unfortunately, interest rates are going
up which means that the excesses that we
have enjoyed the last 10ish 15 years
might revert. higher interest rates,
less gambling, less money, less Gucci
smoochi for the bimbos of all these
great entrepreneurs that are just
betting on the interest rate spread. So
that luxury situation might revert less
Tiffany, less champagne. And then the
question when it comes to investing is
okay, what if the growth happens? But
also the question is what if the growth
doesn't happen? Am I happy with what is
there already? If the grow doesn't
happen, if we look at earnings per share
peaking at 30, now at 20, but you have
to ask yourself, am I happy with the
3.25%
dividend yield? And then we can also
check what happens if things change. And
then I looked a little bit at the P
ratios 10 years ago when it was a little
bit the weaker situation. China spending
this the world was not a nice place
European crisis things like that and the
P ratio was around 18 if I'm not
mistaken the question is can the P ratio
go to 13 that would be something
happening in a true crisis and then the
market cap would be 100 billion so here
we have our intrinsic table LVMH just
click here and here we have the
valuation now earnings per share €22.
If there is a growth rate of just 5% P
ratio of 20, the intrinsic value is
around the current stock price priced
for a return of 8% over the long term.
If the company grows faster at 7% P
ratio goes higher, then we are already
undervalued. But if the growth returns
to let's say 10% in the first 5 years,
calculate perhaps even let's say 35 * 25
is your return in the let's say 4 year
period. 35 * 25 around 7 800 you double
your money if the company returns to
growth over the next four years. So
whenever they return to growth the P
ratio will go up and then you make your
money from a value investing perspective
if the P ratio goes to 15 maybe bit
little bit more conservative 12 just 4%
growth going forward we are there the
stock is priced let's say fairly priced
for a 10% return but you have to always
calculate the worst case scenario if
there is a risk if there is a huge
crisis then luxury brands will suffer
and that is simply how it goes. Can we
predict these things very hard on our
comparative table priced for a 9%
return? So we have a few of them 10 cent
ahold visa depending on what kind of
estimations you put in Netflix into it.
So priced like some of the other players
there perhaps even Amazon the most
intelligent thing we can discuss is can
go up can go down. We surely cannot
predict the luxury market in the next 6
months. It looks ugly now but the key
question is are you happy with the
dividend? If you are, you have to see,
okay, if the stock goes down, this is my
downside. What's my upside? All the
fashion industry looks ugly. Now, we
discussed Lululemon recently. We
discussed other sportsware companies.
So, my conclusion is this is fairly
priced in this market. If the market
changes can get very ugly, then the
upside is very limited. The dividend
yield is relatively low.
And for me personally, other is better.
From a current perspective, I would put
LVMH here as a highly risk low return.
But yes, if the growth returns, then you
will quickly make 10 to 15 20% per year.
But that is with a big if. So if you
want something more aggressive in your
portfolio, if all things are great
ahead, if all these AI companies start
cashing in and all those guys start
spending on Gucci smooches, then you can
make your money. If not, it is a pretty
risky situation. And that's the simple
truth. No analyst knows, nobody knows
where the company will go from. Now
there is potential for upside. If this
exuberant market, this bull market in
the economy spending, this unsustainable
growth continues, there is good upside
in the next few years, this stock can
easily double. If the ugly continues, if
we have a crisis, this stock can easily
half. And if you can't handle that
truth, then you should not touch