Tangible Book Value Per Share (TBVPS): Definition, Formula & 2025 Insights

Tangible Book Value Per Share (TBVPS) is one of those financial ratios that often gets overlooked—until market volatility hits and investors start craving hard numbers behind share prices. As 2025 ushers in renewed scrutiny of company balance sheets, TBVPS is back in the spotlight. Let’s unpack what it means, how to work it out, and why it’s a savvy lens for Australian investors in today’s market.

What Is Tangible Book Value Per Share?

TBVPS measures the per-share value of a company’s physical assets—think buildings, machinery, cash, and inventory—after stripping out anything intangible (like goodwill or patents). It answers a simple question: if a company shut up shop tomorrow and sold off everything you can touch, what would each share be worth?

• Formula:
  TBVPS = (Total Tangible Assets – Total Liabilities) / Number of Outstanding Shares

Key: ‘Tangible’ excludes assets like brand value or intellectual property, focusing strictly on what could be sold off in the real world.

Why TBVPS Matters in 2025

With Australia’s corporate sector facing a mix of rising interest rates and global economic uncertainty, investors are looking for solid ground. TBVPS is especially useful now for a few reasons:

• Market Volatility: When share prices swing wildly, TBVPS can help identify undervalued companies trading below their net tangible assets.
• Banking & Resources Sector Scrutiny: With APRA’s 2025 prudential standards tightening the definition of eligible capital, banks and mining giants are under pressure to prove their balance sheet strength. TBVPS offers a reality check for their reported book values.
• Corporate Transparency: ASIC’s ongoing push for more transparent reporting in 2025 means more accurate asset and liability figures—making TBVPS even more relevant for comparing companies.

For example, in early 2025, several ASX-listed regional banks saw their TBVPS outpace their share price after write-downs of intangible assets. Savvy investors noticed the discount and swooped in, betting on a rebound as market confidence returned.

How to Calculate TBVPS: Step-by-Step

Here’s how you’d break down the formula using a real-world scenario from the 2025 financial statements of an Australian manufacturing firm:

1. Start with Total Equity: Let’s say $400 million.
2. Subtract Intangible Assets: Goodwill and patents total $120 million.
   $400 million – $120 million = $280 million tangible equity.
3. Subtract Any Preferred Equity: If there’s $20 million in preference shares, remove that too.
   $280 million – $20 million = $260 million.
4. Divide by Outstanding Shares: Suppose there are 52 million shares on issue.
   $260 million / 52 million = $5.00 per share (TBVPS).

Pro tip: Some analysts use ‘net tangible assets’ instead of ‘tangible equity’. The difference is subtle, but always check the notes in the company’s annual report for definitions.

How TBVPS Helps Investors Make Smarter Calls

TBVPS is a powerful tool, especially when:

• Screening for Value: Shares trading below TBVPS may be undervalued—though it’s not a buy signal on its own.
• Comparing Peers: In sectors like banking and resources, TBVPS reveals which companies have the strongest real-asset backing.
• Spotting Red Flags: A rapidly shrinking TBVPS can signal asset write-downs, spiralling debt, or poor acquisitions—key risks to watch in 2025.

Consider the 2025 case of two ASX-listed mining firms: Company A trades at a 20% premium to TBVPS, while Company B sits at a 10% discount. Digging deeper, investors found Company B’s assets were mostly cash and equipment, while Company A’s value relied heavily on volatile exploration rights (excluded from TBVPS). The TBVPS lens made the risk/return trade-off clear.

The Bottom Line

In a climate where real-world asset backing matters more than ever, TBVPS is an essential ratio for any serious investor. It won’t replace in-depth research, but it’s a sharp filter for finding value, comparing companies, and avoiding balance sheet traps in 2025’s market.