What Is Book Value Per Share and How to Calculate It

Why do we Use Book Value Per Share?

Some investors may use the book value per share to estimate a company's equity-based on its market value, which is the price of its shares. If a business is presently trading at $20 but has a book value of $10, it is being sold for double its equity.

The denominator is book value per share, and the example is known as the price to book value (P/B). The market price, as opposed to book value, indicates the company's future growth potential. When computing ROE on a per-share basis, book value per share is also utilized in the calculation.

Stockholders' equity (IE) divides net income (IRR). EPS, or earnings per share, measures net income as a percentage of a company's outstanding shares. Stockholders' equity is represented by book value per share, which may be seen at the top of this page.

The formula for Calculating the Book Value Per Share

Calculating a company's value per share using equity accessible to common shareholders is possible using the book value per share formula. It's also known as stockholder's equity, owner's equity, shareholder's equity, or just equity, and it refers to a company's assets minus its liabilities.

When looking at the financial statements of a business, look for information about stockholders' equity, also known as owner's equity. When preferred shares are not present, the entire equity of the stockholders is utilized.

Book Value Per Share = Total Common Stockholder Equity / Number of Common Shares

How to Increase Book Value Per Share (BVPS)?

• Grow net assets consistently while limiting share dilution.
• Retain a portion of profits instead of distributing full dividends.
• Reinvest in core operations and pursue strategic acquisitions.
• Focus on debt reduction and improving operational efficiency.
• Cut unnecessary expenses and lower liabilities.
• Conduct share buybacks (reduces denominator in BVPS formula) if done at fair value.

Example of Book Value Per Share

Consider XYZ Manufacturing, which has a 10 million INR common equity balance and 1 million outstanding shares of common stock. Therefore, the BVPS is (10 million / 1 million shares) = 10. Common equity rises when an organization, such as XYZ, can grow earnings and then reinvest those gains in acquiring new assets or reducing obligations.

If a business earns 500,000 and spends 200,000 of that money on assets, then the value of the common stock rises along with the BVPS as well. If XYZ saves 300,000 in liabilities by using that money, the company's stock price rises.

Repurchasing common stock from existing owners is another method to boost BVPS. Many businesses repurchase shares of their own stock using the money they make. Say, for example, that in the XYZ case the company buys back 200,000 shares of stock and there are still 800,000 outstanding. BVPS rises to 12.50 per share of common stock is worth 10 million. In addition to stock repurchases, a business may raise BVPS by increasing the asset balance and decreasing liabilities.

What is the Significance of Book Value Per Share?

BVPS is theoretically the amount shareholders would get in the case of a liquidation in which all physical assets are sold and all obligations are satisfied. However, investors use it to determine if a stock price is overvalued or undervalued based on the market value per share of the company. Stocks are deemed cheap if their BVPS is greater than their current market value per share (the price at which they are currently trading).

Limitations of Book Value Per Share

• Based on historical cost, not reflective of current market values.
• Excludes or undervalues intangibles like brand, IP, or customer base.
• Ignores future growth potential and earnings outlook.
• Less relevant for asset-light industries (e.g., tech, finance).
• Can be distorted by aggressive depreciation or accounting policies.
• Best used alongside EPS, ROE, and market price for accurate valuation.
   

How is Book Value Per Share Different from Market Value Per Share?

A company's future earnings potential is taken into consideration when calculating the market value per share (MVPS), as opposed to BVPS, which uses past expenses. To put it another way, a rise in the anticipated profits or growth rate of a business should raise the market value per share.

The price of a single publicly traded stock divided by the number of shares outstanding gives us the market price per share. While BVPS is set at a certain price per share, the market price per share varies depending purely on supply and demand in the market.

Conclusion

To sum up, book value per share remains an important indicator of a company’s value. While it may not offer a complete picture on its own, when combined with metrics like market price and earnings, it can yield valuable insights. This is why calculating book value per share and using the book value per share ratio correctly is essential for gaining a renewed perspective on valuation.