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Which stocks trade below book value?

Book value is what shareholders would own if the company sold its assets at their accounting value and paid its debts. Trading below it can mean a bargain, or that investors doubt the assets are worth what the books say. Return on equity helps tell the two apart.

Updated Sep 27, 2026

4
% below book

19 below book

19 S&P 500 companies trade for less than the accounting value of their equity, and the typical company trades at 3.6 times book. Among the larger ones, CMCSA is cheapest at 0.87 times book, earning 12% on that equity.

Median 3.6x bookCheapest sector: Utilities466 companies

By sector and over time

The typical price to book in each sector. Select any company below to see its history.

Median price to book by sector
Market value over shareholders’ equity; lower is cheaper on assets.
UtilitiesUtilities1.94xFinancialsFinancials2.19xCommsComms2.34xReal estateReal estate2.37xEnergyEnergy2.39xMaterialsMaterials2.75xStaplesStaples3.64xHealth careHealth care3.79xIndustrialsIndustrials5.85xDiscretionaryDiscretionary6.40xTechTech8.46x

The 60 lowest prices to book

Ranked by market value over shareholders’ equity. A low price to book with a low return on equity usually means the market doubts the assets. Select a column to sort.

CompanyPrice to bookP/BReturn on equityBook valueSectorP/B, 3 years

How to read this page

How it’s measured. Market value over shareholders’ equity from the latest balance sheet, for S&P 500 companies with positive equity. Return on equity is the last four quarters’ net income over that equity.

Sources. Daily prices and company financial statements from Financial Modeling Prep.

Book value matters most for banks, insurers and asset-heavy businesses. For software and brands, most of the value sits in assets the books don’t record, so a high price to book is normal.

Companies with negative equity, usually from large buybacks, are left out because the ratio means nothing for them.

This page is information, not investment advice. About our data and methods ›

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