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Intrinsic Value
The calculated true worth of an asset based on fundamental analysis.
Intrinsic Value
Intrinsic value is the "real" value of a stock based on its fundamentals, independent of its current market price.
How it differs from market price
- Market price: What the stock trades at right now (driven by supply/demand, sentiment)
- Intrinsic value: What the stock is actually worth based on earnings, assets, and growth
Methods to estimate intrinsic value
- DCF Analysis: Present value of future cash flows
- Dividend Discount Model: Present value of expected dividends
- Asset-based valuation: Net asset value of the company
- Earnings power value: Sustainable earnings divided by cost of capital
Margin of safety
Value investors buy when the market price is significantly below intrinsic value. This gap is called the margin of safety and protects against estimation errors.
Key takeaway
Intrinsic value is always an estimate—different analysts may reach different values. The goal is to be approximately right rather than precisely wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Context matters when interpreting any financial metric.
- Combine multiple data points for informed decisions.
- Continue learning to build investment knowledge.
Quick Reference
Category
Valuation
Difficulty
Beginner
Reading Time
1 min
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EV/EBITDA
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Price-to-Book Ratio
Compares a stock's market price to its book value per share.
Learn More
Where You'll See This
This concept appears throughout stock detail pages and financial data.