Oil & Gas Exploration & Production · NASDAQ
Current Price
$43.39
Intrinsic Value
$72.52
+40.2% margin of safety
As of 2026-08-21, the base-case DCF model estimates the intrinsic value of APA Corporation (APA) at $72.52 per share, compared with a market price of $43.39, a margin of safety of +40.2%. The base case assumes -0.2% annual free cash flow growth and a 10.0% discount rate.
Across the sensitivity grid the estimate spans $63.44 to $83.28. Intrinsic value is an estimate built on assumptions, not a fact. A higher discount rate or slower growth pushes the estimate down, while stronger cash flow growth lifts it.
How the DCF works · Recalculate with your own assumptions · What is intrinsic value?
At the current price of $43.39, APA trades well below the base-case intrinsic value estimate, a margin of safety above 30%. By this model the stock looks undervalued, but verify the growth assumptions match your own view before acting.
COMPETITIVE MOAT
↑Cost-Efficient Operations
APA's focus on operational efficiency and cost reduction, particularly in the Permian Basin, allows for competitive production costs. This enables profitability even with fluctuating commodity prices.
↑Geographic Diversification
APA's presence in multiple exploration and production regions, including the U.S. and international markets, mitigates single-region risk. This diversification supports consistent revenue streams.
↑Exploration Expertise
The company possesses deep geological knowledge and exploration capabilities, leading to successful discovery and development of new reserves. This fuels long-term production growth.
INVESTMENT RISKS
↓Geopolitical Instability
APA's international operations expose it to risks from political instability, conflict, and changes in foreign government policies. These factors can disrupt supply chains and operations.
↓Technological Obsolescence
The oil and gas industry is subject to technological advancements. Failure to adopt new, more efficient extraction or processing technologies could lead to competitive disadvantages.
↓Debt and Financial Leverage
While not explicitly detailed, significant debt levels can increase financial risk, especially during periods of low commodity prices or increased capital expenditures.
Base case
Intrinsic Value
$72.52
Margin of safety
+40.2%
Expected annual return
+10.8%
Base case assumptions: -0.2% annual growth, 10.0% discount rate, 7.28x exit multiple, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-08-21.
This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The intrinsic value changes significantly when the growth rate or discount rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.
Adjust the growth rate, discount rate, and exit multiple to see how the intrinsic value and margin of safety for APA Corporation respond.
Open DCF Calculator for APAAPA Corporation operates in the upstream segment of the oil and natural gas industry, utilizing its various subsidiaries to explore for, develop, and produce hydrocarbon assets. The company maintains significant operational presences in the United States, Egypt, and the United Kingdom, while also conducting exploration activities offshore Suriname. Furthermore, APA Corporation manages critical gathering, processing, and transmission infrastructure within West Texas and holds ownership interests in four major pipelines connecting the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast. Established in 1954, the company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$25.02
FCF/Share (TTM)
$5.97
ROIC (TTM)
4.2%
ROE (TTM)
26.3%
P/FCF
7.3x
EV/EBITDA
3.5x
FCF Yield
13.74%
Debt/Equity
0.55x
Based on trailing twelve-month data, APA shows a free cash flow per share of $5.97 and a ROIC of 4.2%, key inputs for stock valuation using the DCF method. The P/FCF ratio of 7.3x and FCF yield of 13.74% are important context metrics when evaluating APA's stock valuation relative to peers.
APA Corporation currently generates $5.97 in free cash flow per share. At the current price of $43.39, a DCF model would discount these cash flows at an appropriate WACC and apply a terminal growth rate to arrive at an intrinsic value. The result depends heavily on your growth and discount rate assumptions — a 1% change in WACC typically shifts the fair value estimate by 10-15%. In MiniValuator the model uses a single discount rate that you can edit directly, 10% by default, rather than a computed WACC.
APA trades at a P/FCF ratio of 7.3x with a free cash flow yield of 13.74%. A low P/FCF means investors are paying less per dollar of free cash flow; whether that is cheap depends on the company's growth, cyclicality, and capital intensity. However, whether APA is truly undervalued requires comparing the DCF intrinsic value to the current market price and evaluating whether the margin of safety is sufficient for your risk tolerance.
To perform a DCF valuation on APA Corporation: (1) Start with the trailing free cash flow per share ($5.97) as the base, (2) project future FCF growth over 5-10 years based on Oil & Gas Exploration & Production industry trends and company fundamentals, (3) apply a discount rate (WACC) reflecting APA's risk profile — with a debt-to-equity of 0.55x, capital structure is an important factor, and (4) add a terminal value for cash flows beyond the projection period.
DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) estimates what a company is worth today based on its future cash generation. For APA Corporation, this means projecting how much free cash flow the company will produce over the next 5-10 years, shaped by Oil & Gas Exploration & Production trends, then discounting those amounts to today's dollars. APA's ROIC of 4.2% means the company's return on invested capital sits below the level that typically clears its cost of capital.
WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) is the discount rate in a DCF model — it reflects the minimum return investors require. For APA, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55x, the capital structure directly influences WACC. A 1% increase in WACC typically reduces the intrinsic value by 10-15%. At an EV/EBITDA of 3.5x, the market's implied discount rate can be reverse-engineered for comparison. In MiniValuator you set this discount rate yourself as a single editable number, 10% by default, instead of computing a formal WACC.
DCF and P/E value APA with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the P/E fair value.
Price as of 2026-08-21. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.
This is an estimate, not investment advice.