Book Value vs Market Value: Key Differences Explained

Introduction to book value and market value

Book value and market value are two fundamental concepts in finance. Both are used to assess a company's worth but in very different ways.

Book value literally means the value of a business as reflected in the company books or accounts – more specifically, its financial statements, including the balance sheet and income statement. Book value determines value by comparing a company's assets with its liabilities as stated on the company's balance sheet. Therefore, the book value formula is:

Total assets - total liabilities = Book value

Book value is equivalent to a company's net worth and net asset value.

Market value, on the other hand, is a company's stock market value. It reflects what investors are willing to pay for the company's shares based on their expectations of the company. The market value formula is:

Total outstanding shares x Current share price = Market value

This is the same formula that is used to calculate market capitalisation (market cap, in short), which is why the terms market cap and market value are often used interchangeably.

Understanding book value

A company's book valuation is calculated by deducting its total liabilities from its total assets.

A company's total assets might include:

• Financial assets such as cash and accounts receivable
• Physical assets such as property, equipment, and inventory
• Short-term investments
• Intangible assets such as intellectual property, if included in the company's financial statements.

A company's total liabilities are made up of:

• Debt, such as loans
• Accounts payable
• Any other financial obligations.

Book value is based on historical costs – or the price at which the company purchased the assets originally – and adjusted for depreciation, amortisation, and impairment, which have lowered the value of the assets over time.

Book value is equal to shareholder's equity, which is the total value of assets minus liabilities. Book value, therefore, reflects the total amount shareholders stand to gain if the company is liquidated.

As a company's book value is based on its financial statements, it remains largely stable and doesn't undergo frequent adjustments.

Book value formula and its applications

The book value formula (Total assets - Total liabilities = Book value) takes items and numbers out of a company's balance sheet. The resultant book value is indicative of the company's financial health. The business has a higher book value if its assets exceed its liabilities, compared to if it has more liabilities than assets. Book value is, therefore, useful in determining a company's financial foundation.

Investors look at a company's net asset value, equivalent to its book value, to get a clear picture of its true worth. It tells them whether an asset is undervalued or overvalued, helping them make smarter investments.

Understanding market value

If book value represents a company's financial health, market value captures its future growth potential.

Calculated by multiplying total outstanding shares with current market share price, market value is a much more volatile metric than book value. It is influenced by several factors, including a company's future growth prospects, performance, profitability, legal troubles, debt burden, investor sentiment, market conditions, industry trends, global events, and so on. The slightest change in any of these factors can cause variations in the company's market capitalisation and, in turn, its market value. It isn't uncommon for a company's market value to change several times in a day, reflecting concurrent shifts in the share price.

Market value responds to stock market conditions. It mirrors stock price, climbing when the market is bullish and diving during a crash. Similarly, when investor expectations of a company are high, its stock price is also high, which in turn drives its market value up.

Market value is vitally important to investors. It represents their perception about a company's growth potential and influences their financial planning.

Market value also has a decisive impact on whether financial lenders are willing to lend to a company and if willing, how much.

Furthermore, knowing the market value of their company enables business owners and leaders to make informed decisions on buying, selling, or expanding the business.

Book value vs market value: Key differences

The differences between book value and market value lie in their calculation, application, and interpretation. Here are five factors on which they differ:

Valuation

Book value and market value are both business valuation tools but with starkly different approaches. Book value essentially measures the financial base on which a business stands. Market value determines a company's value in the eyes of investors.

Source of data

Book value is based on a company's historical costs and takes into account its total assets and liabilities. These figures are easily found in a company's balance sheet.

In contrast, market value uses a companmy's current share price, the total number of its shares, and its market capitalisation. Market value, therefore, draws all its information from the stock market.

Assets coverage

Book value accounts for a company's fixed assets (cash, bank accounts, etc) as well as tangible assets (real estate, plant, machinery, etc). Intangible assets are included only if included in the corresponding financial statements.

On the other hand, market value accounts for intangible assets such as intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc), brand reputation, and future earnings potential.

Volatility

Market value is a highly volatile metric, sensitive to a business' performance and problems, its growth potential as determined by investors, and a wide range of external factors. When the share price changes due to any of these factors, so does market value.

In contrast, book value is a more stable metric that does not require frequent adjustments.

Purpose

Investors look at book value to assess a business' financial health and stability as well as its potential liquidation value.

Meanwhile, they look at market value to assess a business' future growth prospects. The current market value is the price they are willing to pay to acquire its shares.

Book value vs market value

Book value vs market value: How to compare the two

For the best results, business leaders and investors leverage book value and market value together to get a more holistic evaluation of a company's worth. On their own, each metric presents an incomplete picture with book value only showing a business' financial base and market value its future prospects.

Here's how a comparison can be made based on the following three scenarios:

1. If book value is more than market value

If a company's book value is higher than its market value, it could mean that its stock is undervalued. This could be caused by several factors such as market volatility or loss of confidence in the company because it is facing problems. Investors are often on the lookout for undervalued stocks because they present an opportunity to buy cheap and earn substantial returns.

2. It market value is more than book value

For successful companies, their market value is usually greater than their book value. This is because investors believe the earning power of these companies to be greater than the assets they own. A higher market value indicates high growth potential, great prospects for expansion, a growing brand value, and profitable intellectual property. However, a high market value could also point to an overvalued stock.

If book value and market value are equal

When this happens, it means that investors believe the company's market valuation to be the same as its value as recorded in its books.

Using the price-to-book ratio

For a more comprehensive and accurate comparison of a company's book value and market value, investors us the price-to-book ratio or P/B ratio. To get to the price-to-book ratio, investors divide the company's current stock price per share by its book value per share. Investors use the P/B ratio to discover undervalued stocks and make informed investment decisions. A P/B ratio of lower than three is taken to indicate a stock that is selling at a price lower than its true worth.

Summing up

Book value and market value assess a company's value in very different ways. Book value is based on accounting principles while market value relies on real-time investor sentiment. Smart investors take both into consideration, taking valuable insights from both, when planning their investment moves.

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