Central Securities Corporation (CET) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Sep 23, 2026: fair value of Central Securities Corporation $51.43, price $56.44, upside -8.9%, quality 57 out of 100. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
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Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year, dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $26.21 – $56.99 · fair‑value band $38.57 – $64.29 · the $56.44 price screens above the $51.43 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). 2 fiscal years are left out: there the valuation rested on only a fraction of the usual models. Dashed = 300-day average. As of Sep 24, 2026.
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Central Securities Corporation is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It also invests on bonds, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, warrants, options real estate, or short-term obligations of governments, banks and corporations. Central Securities Corp.
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Central Securities Corporation is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It also invests on bonds, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, warrants, options real estate, or short-term obligations of governments, banks and corporations. Central Securities Corp. was founded on October 1, 1929 and is based in New York City.
Stock analysis
Central Securities Corporation (CET) currently trades at $56.44, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $51.43, implying the stock looks roughly 9.7% fairly valued today.
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Valuation
How firm this estimate is: it rests on 26 models at a data quality of 96/100, which puts the evidence level at high.
Scenario range: $38.57 (bear) to $64.29 (bull), the price of $56.44 sits inside it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 57/100 (solid quality), in the Financial Services sector.
Mixed Growth: Spin-off in 2025: revenue and profit before it include the divested business. Growth is measured afresh from 2025.
Central Securities Corporation reported revenue of $87.0M in FY2025 versus $360M in FY2021, a compound −29.9%/yr. Reported net income was $265M in FY2025, compounding −6.9%/yr from FY2021.
Key figures
Market cap $1.7B · P/E ratio 6.2 · P/S ratio 18.8 · EPS (TTM) $9.15 · Dividend yield 4.9% · Net margin 832% · Return on equity 15.8% · Return on assets (EBIT) 12.5%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 48 out of 100 (medium confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades about 1% below its 52-week high and 19% above its 52-week low, currently above its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Financial Services peers we cover trades at −4% fair-value upside, at −9%, CET screens richer than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear $38.57Fair Value $51.43Bull $64.29
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above is their evidence-weighted blend, not the output of a single model. Based on fiscal year 2025 figures (about 9 months old). Earnings retained since then ($3.44 per share) are deliberately not added.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.Evidence ⓘEvidence = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.55/100
Spin-off in 2025: revenue and profit before it include the divested business. Growth is measured afresh from 2025.
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
−6.3%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+2.9%
Revenue growth 28 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+14.9%
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What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate.
+3.7%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year−1.2%
Dividend (yield on the price)4.9%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.−1% vs 12%, slowing
Profit margin 2020 to 2025 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.92% → 305%
Start year 2020 (pandemic)
Growth Forecast
A lot of optimism in the price
The price assumes more growth than the company has delivered so far.
What the price assumes ⓘThis turns our valuation around: instead of asking what the share is worth, it asks what growth the current price requires. It uses the cash the company keeps after all spending (free cash flow), the same discount rate as our models, five years of growth, then slowing evenly to 2 % a year by year ten. Compared with the analysts' sales forecasts extended to the same five years (at least three analysts, for context only, it does not enter the Fair Value): within 3 percentage points counts as "in line" (amber), below that little optimism (green), above that a lot of optimism (red).
+21.8%
Yearly growth needed for the next five years to justify today's price.
What forecasts expect
n/a
No analyst forecast available.
After inflation (USA: IMF forecast 2.4% a year to 2030, 3.1% from 2016 to 2025) that is about +19.0% a year for the price.
Compare Central Securities Corporation with another stock
Price, fair value, quality and upside side by side.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Asset Management · 659 stocks
Beats the industry median on 5/12 measures
A mixed picture versus its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score56 · Below median
Fair Value upside−10% · Below median
Profitability
Return on equity (TTM)12% · Above median
Return on assets1% · Below median
Operating margin (TTM)87% · Top 25%
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth66% · Top 25%
Dividend yield (TTM)4.9% · Above median
Valuation Multiplesvs Asset Management median · lower = cheaper
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Is Central Securities Corporation (CET) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Sep 24, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $51.43 versus a price of $56.44, about −9% upside (fairly valued).
What is the fair value of CET?
Our model-based fair value for Central Securities Corporation is $51.43 (as of Sep 24, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $56.44.
What is the quality score of CET?
Central Securities Corporation has a Quality Score of 57/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $51.43 (as of Sep 24, 2026) from 2 valuation models. Cautious scenario $38.57, optimistic scenario $64.29. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the Central Securities Corporation stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $51.43, about −9% upside versus a price of $56.44 (fairly valued). Cautious scenario $38.57, optimistic scenario $64.29. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Central Securities Corporation reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $31.9M (latest available figure, as of Sep 24, 2026).
Does Central Securities Corporation pay a dividend?
Central Securities Corporation currently shows a dividend yield of about 4.89% relative to its recent price (as of Sep 24, 2026).
What growth is priced into Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
For today's price to be fair in a discounted-cash-flow model, Central Securities Corporation would have to grow free cash flow by +21.8 % per year for five years (discount rate 10.5 %, then slowing evenly to 2 % perpetual growth by year ten). Over the last 5 years revenue grew +1.7 % per year. As of Sep 24, 2026.
What discount rate (WACC) does the fair value of CET use?
Our models discount Central Securities Corporation at 10.5 %: a base by market capitalisation (small), damped by beta 0.74, country premium for USA. The same rate applies in all 26 models.
What is a reverse DCF?
A reverse DCF turns the usual calculation around. Instead of deriving a value from assumptions, it takes today's price as given and asks: what free-cash-flow growth would a company have to deliver for exactly this price to be fair? The result is not a forecast but the expectation already priced in. For Central Securities Corporation that is +21.8 % per year a year over ten years, using the same discount rate (10.5 %) and the same formula as our fair value.
How much growth has Central Securities Corporation (CET) delivered so far?
Over the past 5 years revenue at Central Securities Corporation grew +1.7 % a year. The price currently implies +21.8 % per year free-cash-flow growth a year. Comparing the two shows how much confidence is in the price: if it demands more than has been delivered, the business has to accelerate for the maths to work.
How fast is the sector of Central Securities Corporation (CET) growing?
The median revenue growth in the sector is +8.4 % a year. That is the yardstick for the growth priced into Central Securities Corporation (+21.8 % per year a year): it shows whether the expectation is within the usual range or beyond it.
What is the free cash flow yield of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The free-cash-flow yield on the price is 2.82 %: that much free cash flow Central Securities Corporation produces per unit of market value. When it exceeds the discount rate of our models (10.5 %), the business already earns more than its cost of capital demands, and the price needs little additional growth.
What is the intrinsic value of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For Central Securities Corporation it is $51.43 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026), against a price of $56.44. It is the blended result of 2 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is Central Securities Corporation stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Sep 24, 2026, CET trades above its calculated fair value: price $56.44, fair value $51.43, a gap of about −9% (fairly valued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of CET?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($56.44); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($51.43). For Central Securities Corporation the two are $5.01 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is Central Securities Corporation worth?
The market values Central Securities Corporation at about $1.7B (market capitalisation, as of Sep 24, 2026). Per share that is $56.44; our models calculate a fair value of $51.43 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about CET?
Our models span a range for Central Securities Corporation: cautious scenario $38.57, base $51.43, optimistic $64.29 per share (as of Sep 24, 2026, price $56.44). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of CET?
Central Securities Corporation trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.2 (as of Sep 24, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $51.43 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: P/B 0.9, P/S 39.0, EV/EBITDA 47.0.
How solid is the balance sheet of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Balance-sheet figures for Central Securities Corporation (as of Sep 24, 2026): return on equity 12.4%. They feed the Quality Score of 57/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is CET from its 52-week high?
Central Securities Corporation trades at $56.44, about 1% below its 52-week high of $56.99 and 19% above the low of $47.51 (as of Sep 23, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $51.43 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to Central Securities Corporation?
From the same area (Financial Services) we also value Blackstone Inc, Brookfield Corporation, KKR & Co, Apollo Global Management, Inc, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is Central Securities Corporation stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Sep 24, 2026: price $56.44, calculated fair value $51.43 (−9%), Quality Score 57/100, from 2 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of CET calculated?
We run Central Securities Corporation through 2 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $51.43, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 14.1 % above its aggregate fair value. Central Securities Corporation itself currently trades above fair value. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The closing price on Sep 23, 2026 was $56.44. Our model-based fair value is $51.43, about −9% upside (fairly valued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with Central Securities Corporation right now?
The price sits close to our fair value, market and models broadly agree here, little valuation tension. For a financial, book-value and earnings-based methods matter more than a cash-flow DCF, which fits banks and insurers poorly.
Key figures of Central Securities Corporation
How large is the market capitalisation of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The market capitalisation of Central Securities Corporation is $1.7B. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The price-to-sales ratio of Central Securities Corporation is 18.8 (P/E × margin). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Earnings per share at Central Securities Corporation are $9.15 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 6.2). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the dividend yield of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The dividend yield of Central Securities Corporation is 4.9% (payout 30.2%). Yearly dividend relative to the share price. 3% pays 3 per 100 invested. Below: how much of profit is used for it.
What is the net margin of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The net margin of Central Securities Corporation is 832% (last twelve months). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The return on equity (ROE) of Central Securities Corporation is 15.8% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of Central Securities Corporation is 12.5% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
The operating margin of Central Securities Corporation is 74.7% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Revenue at Central Securities Corporation is growing +48.4% versus a year earlier. How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at Central Securities Corporation (CET)?
Earnings per share at Central Securities Corporation are growing +43.6% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much net debt does Central Securities Corporation (CET) carry?
The net debt of Central Securities Corporation is $5.4M (fiscal year 2025, ≈ 0.1 yrs of FCF). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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Broad data
Sep 24, 2026