Value Line, Inc. (VALU) Valuation

Valuation

Model-based estimates, not advice. The DCF is the discounted-cash-flow value per share; compare it with the price, not as a target.

DCF fair value

-79.2%

$9.52

vs $45.80 price

Levered DCF

$21.85

After debt service

Piotroski score

5 / 9

Average

Altman Z-score

7.89

Safe zone

Rating

A-

Overall 4 / 5

Ratios by fiscal year

Margins and yields are shares of revenue, equity or price; multiples are ×.

Metric	FY2026	FY2025	FY2024	FY2023	FY2022	FY2021	FY2020	FY2019
P/E	15.3×	18.59×	17.92×	23.93×	26.19×	12.57×	19.99×	20.13×
P/B	3.06×	3.86×	3.76×	5.17×	7.85×	4.37×	5.58×	4.72×
P/S	9.88×	10.98×	9.1×	10.89×	15.42×	7.26×	7.42×	6.18×
EV / EBITDA	57.9×	48.88×	32.39×	33.61×	49.65×	32.25×	32.67×	37.66×
Gross margin	43.9%	58.8%	60.4%	61.7%	57.3%	53.3%	54.9%	51.0%
Operating margin	12.1%	17.1%	24.4%	28.9%	26.7%	18.7%	22.6%	14.9%
Net margin	64.7%	59.0%	50.7%	45.5%	58.8%	57.6%	37.1%	33.1%
Current ratio	3.92×	3.38×	3.19×	2.84×	2.58×	1.83×	1.51×	1.24×
Debt / equity	0.02×	0.04×	0.05×	0.07×	0.09×	0.16×	0.22×	0×
Interest coverage	0×	0×	0×	0×	0×	0×	0×	0×
Dividend yield	3.7%	2.9%	3.1%	2.2%	1.3%	2.8%	2.6%	3.3%
Payout ratio	56.5%	54.6%	55.5%	52.4%	35.3%	34.7%	51.7%	61.3%

Key metrics by fiscal year

Metric	FY2026	FY2025	FY2024	FY2023	FY2022	FY2021	FY2020	FY2019
Return on equity	20.0%	20.8%	20.9%	21.6%	29.9%	34.7%	27.9%	25.3%
Return on invested capital	2.3%	3.7%	6.0%	8.0%	7.9%	6.0%	7.8%	6.0%
Return on assets	14.2%	14.3%	14.0%	13.8%	18.5%	19.2%	13.6%	13.1%
Free cash flow yield	5.6%	5.2%	5.2%	4.2%	3.9%	5.5%	4.6%	5.2%
Earnings yield	6.5%	5.4%	5.6%	4.2%	3.8%	7.9%	5.0%	5.4%
Enterprise value	$308.4M	$354.7M	$341.7M	$430.8M	$602.5M	$284.7M	$305.7M	$217.7M
Net debt / EBITDA	-4.11×	-4.2×	0.04×	-0.11×	-1.84×	-0.95×	0.73×	-1.12×
Cash conversion cycle (days)	-24	-24	-20	-7	-13	-4	4	-25