Are Investors Undervaluing Keppel Ltd. (SGX:BN4) By 36%?

Keppel Ltd. (SGX:BN4), a global asset manager and operator, has been making significant strides in its transformation and growth. With a market cap of SGD 12.26 billion and an enterprise value of SGD 22.43 billion, the company has been reporting strong financial performance and expanding its business. However, the question remains: are investors undervaluing Keppel Ltd. by 36%?



Keppel Ltd. has been focusing on growing its funds under management (FUM) and expanding its data center capacity. In the first half of 2024, FUM grew by 55% to S$85 billion, and the company aims to double its FUM to S$100 billion by 2026 and quadruple it to S$200 billion by 2030. Additionally, Keppel plans to expand its current data center capacity from 650 MW to 1.2 GW in the near term, with additional S$10 billion in FUM growth.

The company's strong financial performance and growth prospects have been reflected in its valuation multiples. As of February 5, 2025, Keppel's trailing P/E ratio is 15.02, and its forward P/E ratio is 12.92. The company's EV/EBITDA ratio is 19.16, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for Keppel's earnings and cash flow-generating capabilities.



However, some analysts and investors argue that Keppel Ltd. may be undervalued by as much as 36%. This perspective is based on the company's strong growth prospects, expanding FUM, and strategic initiatives, such as the expansion of data center capacity. If Keppel Ltd. can continue to execute on its growth strategy and deliver on its financial targets, investors may indeed be undervaluing the company.



In conclusion, while Keppel Ltd. has been reporting strong financial performance and growth, the question of whether investors are undervaluing the company by 36% remains open to debate. The company's strategic initiatives, such as expanding data center capacity and growing FUM, suggest that Keppel Ltd. may be undervalued. However, investors should carefully consider the company's financial performance, valuation multiples, and growth prospects before making an investment decision.