Tangible Book Value Per Share (TBVPS)

Tangible book value per share (TBVPS) is a method of valuing a company on a per-share basis by measuring its equity after removing any intangible assets. The tangible book value per share is calculated as follows:

Tangible book value per share of a company is what common shareholders can expect to receive if the firm goes bankrupt and all of its assets are liquidated at their book value. Intangible assets, such as goodwill, are removed from this calculation because they cannot be sold during liquidation. Companies with a high tangible book value per share offer shareholders more downside protection in the case of bankruptcy.

Tangible book value per share (TBVPS) focuses solely on the value of an organization's tangible assets. Once the value of the tangible assets is determined, that amount is divided by the number of shares currently outstanding.

The TBVPS provides an estimate of what each share would be valued at, should the company go bankrupt and be forced to sell their assets. Since certain intrinsic characteristics, such as goodwill or employee knowledge, cannot be liquidated for a price, the value of those intangibles aren't included in the estimate. The TBVPS applies only to physical items that can be handled and sold.

An organization's tangible assets can include any physical products the company produces, as well as any materials used to create them. Should an organization be in the business of producing bicycles, any completed bicycles, any unused bicycle parts and any raw materials (such as metal for fabrication) would qualify as tangible assets. The value of these assets is determined based on what price they would draw should the company need to liquidate, most commonly in the event of a bankruptcy.

Aside from assets related to the production of a product, any equipment used to create the product can also be included. This can include any tools or machinery required to complete production, as well as any real estate owned and used for the purposes of production. Additional business equipment, such as computers and filing cabinets may also be considered tangible assets for the purpose of valuation.

Book value refers to the ratio of stockholder equity to the number of shares outstanding. It takes into account only the accounting valuation, which is not always an accurate reflection of the current market valuation, or what could be received during a sale.