Price to Book Ratio Calculator
Category: Fundamental & Economic ToolsAnalyze company valuations relative to their book value, compare against industry standards, and identify potentially undervalued or overvalued stocks
Stock Information
Book Value Information
P/B Ratio Analysis Results
P/B Ratio by Industry Sector
P/B to ROE Analysis
Valuation Scenarios
Fair Value Analysis
Fair value estimate based on current book value and sector average P/B ratio.
ROE-Adjusted Value
Analysis based on P/B ratio justified by the company's Return on Equity (ROE).
Growth-Based Value
Future valuation based on projected growth in book value and current P/B ratio.
Valuation Insights
Current Valuation
With a P/B ratio of 3.00, this stock is trading above the Technology sector average of 2.50. This suggests the stock may be slightly overvalued based on its book value.
ROE Analysis
The company's Return on Equity (ROE) of 12% is above the sector average. This partially justifies the premium P/B ratio, as companies with higher ROE typically trade at higher multiples.
Tangible Book Value Assessment
The price-to-tangible-book ratio of 3.60 is higher than the standard P/B ratio. This indicates that 16.7% of the book value consists of intangible assets, which may present moderate risk if these assets need to be written down.
Future Outlook
With projected earnings growth of 8% and a current ROE of 12%, the stock shows reasonable growth potential. Investors should monitor changes in ROE and book value trends in future financial reports.
Understanding Price-to-Book Ratio
The Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio compares a company's market value to its book value. It shows how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of net assets. This metric is particularly useful for valuing financial institutions, manufacturing companies, and businesses with significant tangible assets.
Types of Book Value
- Standard Book Value: Total assets minus total liabilities (shareholders' equity)
- Tangible Book Value: Standard book value minus intangible assets (goodwill, patents, etc.)
- Book Value Per Share (BVPS): Total shareholders' equity divided by outstanding shares
- Tangible Book Value Per Share (TBVPS): Tangible book value divided by outstanding shares
Interpreting P/B Values
- P/B < 1: Stock potentially undervalued, trading below net asset value
- P/B = 1: Market value equals book value (rare except in distressed situations)
- P/B > 1: Market values company above its stated net assets
- High P/B: Often indicates high ROE, strong growth prospects, or understated assets
- Low P/B: May indicate poor returns, declining business, or overstated assets
P/B Ratio Formulas
Standard P/B Ratio
Price-to-Tangible-Book Ratio
ROE-Justified P/B
Book Value Per Share
Limitations of P/B Analysis
- Accounting Practices: Book value can be affected by different accounting methods and policies
- Asset Composition: Less relevant for service or technology companies with few tangible assets
- Hidden Assets/Liabilities: May not capture off-balance sheet items or intellectual property value
- Historical Cost: Assets recorded at historical cost may differ significantly from current market values
- Sector Variation: P/B ratios vary widely across sectors, making cross-industry comparisons difficult
P/B Ratios: Gauging Value Beyond the Stock Price
After running the Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio Calculator, you’ve seen a set of valuation outputs that go beyond simple price tags. A 3.00 P/B ratio, sector average of 2.50, and further layers like the Price-to-Tangible-Book (PTB) ratio and ROE-justified metrics offer a much richer picture of what the market is saying about this company—and what you might want to do next.
Signals to Watch in Your P/B Output
The P/B ratio tells us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of a company’s net assets. It’s especially useful for asset-heavy sectors like finance, industrials, or utilities, where tangible assets are meaningful. Here's what your results could be signaling:
- P/B Ratio: 3.00 – Investors are paying three times the book value per share. This generally points to confidence in the company's growth or return potential.
- Sector Average P/B: 2.50 – This stock trades at a 20% premium to the typical company in its industry.
- PTB Ratio: 3.60 – A higher PTB suggests a significant portion of book value comes from intangible assets, which may carry revaluation or impairment risk.
- Relative Valuation: +20.0% – On a sector-relative basis, this may reflect strong fundamentals or simply a hot stock that’s running ahead of its intrinsic value.
None of these numbers live in isolation—they need to be interpreted alongside Return on Equity (ROE), earnings growth, and sector expectations.
What the Market Might Be Pricing In
A P/B ratio of 3.00 in a sector where the average is 2.50 might initially feel expensive, but not all premiums are unwarranted. If your ROE input was 12%—above the sector's 10% benchmark—that helps explain the premium. Investors often pay up for firms generating more income from every dollar of equity.
- ROE of 12% vs. sector average of 10% – Suggests efficiency in turning equity into profit, partially justifying a higher P/B.
- ROE-Justified P/B: 2.80 – Indicates the current valuation is slightly above what the return level would typically support.
- Growth-Adjusted P/B: 3.20 – Points to upside if earnings and book value grow at the expected rate.
Traders should keep in mind that premiums supported by strong ROE and growth tend to hold up better—unless macro or company-specific risks disrupt future performance.
Risk Considerations Before You Act
The P/B ratio is only as reliable as the book value behind it. Here's what to think about before trading based on this output:
- Tangible Risk: A PTB of 3.60 vs. a standard P/B of 3.00 suggests 16.7% of the book value is intangible—this could be goodwill from acquisitions, patents, or trademarks that may not hold value in downturns.
- Growth vs. Reality: An 8% earnings growth rate assumption helps support a higher P/B, but if actual performance falters, the valuation could compress quickly.
- Sector Cyclicality: In cyclical industries, book value can remain stable while earnings swing—this can lead to mispriced optimism or unjustified pessimism.
- Market Sentiment: Stocks can trade at high P/B ratios purely due to hype. Peer comparisons help filter emotion from fundamentals.
Practical Tips for Using This Analysis
If you’re considering making a trade based on the P/B and related outputs, keep these strategies in mind:
- Compare against peers: If similar firms have lower P/Bs with equal or better ROEs, the premium here may not be warranted.
- Check the trend: Look at historical P/B ratios for this stock. Has it consistently traded at a premium, or is this a recent shift?
- Cross-check with ROE: High P/B only makes sense with sustained high ROE. If ROE is dipping, caution is warranted.
- Use scenarios: The fair value, ROE-adjusted, and growth-based outputs offer target prices under different assumptions. Consider position sizing based on the risk-reward implied by those ranges.
- Don't ignore the sector: If your entire industry is heating up or cooling down, sector averages can drift quickly. Use them as context, not gospel.
Next Steps with Your Price-to-Book Analysis
Your P/B calculator results are a useful piece of the valuation puzzle, especially when framed with ROE, sector comparisons, and growth expectations. Whether the 3.00 ratio you see today represents opportunity or risk depends on what lies behind the book value and whether earnings can keep pace with market expectations.
If you're seeing a premium valuation but can't justify it with superior returns or growth, it might be time to hold off—or look for stronger peers trading at better value. On the flip side, if this stock’s fundamentals remain strong and align with sector trends, the market may be pricing it just right—or even underestimating it.
Keep checking updated financial reports, monitor changes in book value and ROE, and re-run the analysis periodically. Value is never static—and neither should your perspective be.