S&P 500/Citigroup Value Index

The S&P 500/Citigroup Value Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index developed by Standard and Poor's consisting of those stocks within the S&P 500 Index that exhibit strong value characteristics.

The S&P 500/Citigroup Value Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index that covers the complete market capitalization of the S&P 500 Index. All S&P 500 index stocks are represented in the Value index. Narrow in focus, The S&P 500/Citigroup Value Index contains only those S&P 500 companies with strong value characteristics as selected by S&P

The Standard & Poor's 500, often abbreviated as the S&P or the S&P 500, is a stock market index. Based on the market capitalizations of 500 large companies having common stock listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ, the S&P 500 is one of the most commonly followed equity indices, and is generally considered one of the best representations of the U.S. economy and stock market.

Four value factors and three growth factors are used to determine the constituents and their weightings within the index. Value and growth style scores are calculated based on standardized factors.

The value factors are:
1. Book value to price ratio
This ratio compares a stock's market value to its book value, and is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter's book value per share. A lower P/B ratio could mean that the stock is undervalued.    

2. Cash flow to price ratio
This ratio compares a company's market value to its cash flow, and is calculated by dividing the company's market cap by the company's operating cash flow in the most recent fiscal year, or by dividing the per-share stock price by the per-share operating cash flow. Generally speaking, the lower a stock's price/cash flow ratio is, the better value that stock is.

3. Sales to price ratio
This ratio is a valuation metric for stocks, and is calculated by dividing the company's market cap by the revenue in the most recent year; or, equivalently, divide the per-share stock price by the per-share revenue. Generally speaking, a smaller sales to price ratio is considered a better investment since the investor  pays less for each unit of sales.

4. Dividend yield
This ratio that indicates how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price, and is calculated by dividing the dividend per share by the price per share.

The growth factors are:
1. Five-year earnings per share growth rate
The earnings per share growth rate is the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock, and is calculated by dividing net income, minus preferred stock dividends, by average outstanding shares. Earnings per share serves as an indicator of a company's profitability.

2. Five-year sales per share growth rate
The sales per share growth rate computes the total revenue earned per share over a designated period, and is calculated by dividing total revenue by average shares outstanding. Also known as "revenue per share."

3. Five-year internal growth rate
An internal growth rate is the highest level of growth achievable for a business without obtaining outside financing, and a firm's maximum internal growth rate is the level of business operations that can continue to fund and grow the company. Internal growth rate is an important measurement for startup firms and small businesses, because it measures a firm's ability to increase sales and profit without issuing more stock or debt.