InvestGen Archives | Page 10 of 65

Jun

2024

Bull vs Bear Market: What’s the Difference?

By Michael Flannelly | invest, Investing, Terminology | No Comments

In the financial world, you’ll often hear the terms “bull market” and “bear market” in reference to market conditions, and these terms refer to extended periods of ups and downs in the financial markets. Because market conditions directly affect investors’ portfolios, it’s important to understand their differences.

As such, knowing the basics of bull and bear markets, and potentially maintaining or adjusting your investment strategy accordingly, may help you make wiser investing decisions, or at least provide some mental clarity.

What Is a Bull Market?

A bull market is a period of time in the financial markets where asset prices are rising, and optimism is high. A bull market is seen as a good thing for most investors because stock prices are on the upswing and the economy is booming. In other words, the market is charging ahead, and portfolios are rising in value. The designation is a bit vague, as there’s no specific amount of time or level of increase that defines a bull market.

The term “bull market” has an interesting history, and was actually coined in response to the development of the term “bear market” (more on that in a minute). The short of it is that “bears” became associated with speculation. In the 1700s, “bull” was used to describe someone making a speculative investment hoping that prices would rise, and thus, itself became the mascot for upward-trending markets.

💡 Quick Tip: Are self-directed brokerage accounts cost efficient? They can be, because they offer the convenience of being able to buy stocks online without using a traditional full-service broker (and the typical broker fees).

What Is a Bear Market?

Investors and market watchers generally define a bear market as a drop of 20% or more from market highs. When investors refer to a bear market, it usually means that multiple broad market indexes, such as the Standard & Poors 500 Index (S&P 500) or Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), fell by 20% or more over at least two months.

As noted, the term “bear” has a long history. It can be traced back to an old proverb, warning that it isn’t wise to “sell the bear’s skin before one has caught the bear.” “Bear’s skin” became simply “bear” over the years, and the term started to be used to describe speculators in the markets. Those speculators were often betting or hoping that prices would decline so that they could generate returns, and from there, “bears” became associated with downward-trending markets.

Bull vs Bear: Main Differences

The most stark and obvious difference between bull and bear markets is that one is associated with a downward-trending market, and the other, with an upward-trending market. But there are other differences as well.

For instance, bull markets tend to last longer than bear markets – although there’s no guarantee that any bull market will last longer than any particular bear market. The average bull market, for instance, lasts between six and seven years, while the average bear market lasts less than one-and-a-half years.

Typical gains and losses are lopsided between the two, as well. The average gain over the course of a bull market is almost 340%, while the average cumulative loss during bear markets is less than 40%.

Bull vs Bear Market: Key Differences
Bull Market	Bear Market
Upward-trending market	Downward, or declining market
Have an average duration of 6.6 years	Have an average duration of 1.3 years
Average cumulative gains amount to ~340%	Average cumulative losses amount to 38%

How Is Investing Different During a Bull Market vs a Bear Market?

Depending on the individual investor, investing can be different during different types of markets. For some people, their investing habits may not change at all – but for others, their entire strategy may shift. A lot of it has to do with your personal risk tolerance and whether you’re letting your emotions get the best of you.

You may want to think of it this way: Just like encountering a grizzly on a hike, a bear market can be terrifying. Falling stock prices likely mean that the value of your retirement account or other investment portfolios are plummeting.

Unrealized losses during a bear market can be psychologically brutal, and if your investments don’t have time to recover, they can seriously affect your life.

Assuming, that is, that those unrealized losses become realized – if an investor does nothing during a bear market, allowing the market to recover (which, historically, it always has), then they’ve effectively lost nothing.

That can be important to keep in mind because markets are cyclical, meaning that bear markets are a fact of life; they tend to occur every three to four years. But what makes them nerve-wracking is that it’s difficult to see them coming. Some signs that a bear market may be looming include a slowing economy, increasing unemployment, declining profits for corporations, and decreasing consumer confidence, among other things.

Conversely, many investors may find it psychologically easier to invest during a bull market, when assets are appreciating (generally), and they can see an immediate unrealized return in their portfolio. Again, each investor will react differently to different market conditions, but the psychological weight of prevailing markets can be heavy on many investors.

Investing During a Bull Market

As noted, investors choose to adopt different investment strategies depending on whether we’re experiencing a bull or bear market.

During a bull market, some might suggest holding off on the urge to sell stocks even after you’ve had gains, since you could miss out on even higher prices if the bull market charges forward. However, no one knows when a peak will arrive, so this buy-and-hold strategy could lead to investors, who sell later, missing out on potential gains.

It may be a good idea to try and keep your confidence in check during a bull market, too. Because investors have seen their holdings gaining value, they might think they’re better at picking stocks than they actually are, and could feel tempted to make riskier moves.

Another common mistake is believing that the gains will continue in perpetuity; in reality, it’s often hard to predict a downswing, and stock market timing is challenging for even professional investors.

Investing During a Bear Market

A great way to prepare for a bear market is to try and remember that the market will, at some point, see a downturn. And, accordingly, to try and be prepared for it.

One way to do so could be to make sure your assets aren’t allocated in a way that’s riskier than you’re comfortable with — for example, by being overly invested in stocks in one company, industry, or region — when times are good. In other words, make sure your portfolio contains some degree of diversification.

Buying stock during a bear market can be advantageous since investors might be getting a better deal on stocks that could rise in value once the market recovers, which is also known as buying the dip. However, there can be obvious risks associated with predicting when certain stocks will hit bottom and buying them with the expectation of future gains.

No one knows what the future holds, so there’s always a chance the price will keep plummeting. Another tactic investors might be able to use is dollar-cost averaging — which is investing a fixed amount of money over time — so that chances of buying at high or low points are spread out over time.

Once the bear market arrives, investors make a common mistake: getting spooked and selling off all their stocks. But selling when prices are low means they could be likely to suffer losses and may miss the subsequent rebound.

In general, as long as investors are comfortable with their portfolio mix and are investing for the long haul, it may be a good idea to stick with your predetermined strategy, no matter what’s happening in the markets in the short-term. Again, it’s worth remembering that market cycles are normal, and the same dynamism responsible for downturns allows investors to experience gains at other times.

Examples of Bull and Bear Markets

As discussed, bear markets are fairly common. In fact, dating back to 1929, the S&P 500 has experienced a decline of 20% or more 27 times – and the good news for investors, as of late, is that more recent bear markets have tended to be shorter in duration, and fewer and further between.

The most recent bear market was during 2022, and lasted 282 days, with a market decline of more than 25%. The market has, since then, bounced back to reach record-highs. Before that, there was a bear market in February and March 2020, when the pandemic initially hit the U.S., which saw the markets fall more than 33% – but the bear market itself lasted only 33 days.

Going back even further, there was a relatively severe bear market in the early 1970s which lasted 630 days, and saw the market decline 48%. Again, that makes more recent downturns look fairly tame in comparison.

💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.

The Takeaway

Bull and bear markets refer to either rising or declining markets, with bear markets notable as they represent declines of at least 20% in the market. Both bull and bear markets can have psychological effects on investors, and it’s important to understand what they are to try and adjust (or stick to) your strategy, accordingly.

If you’re investing for decades down the road, once you have an investment mix that is diversified and matches your comfort with risk, it’s often wisest to leave it alone regardless of what the market is doing. It may also be a good idea to speak with a financial professional for guidance.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN-Q224-1900573-V1

May

2024

9 Common Social Security Myths You Need to Know About

By AJ Smith | invest, Investing, Preparing for Retirement | Comments Off

Social security is a right and even a rite of passage ahead for many Americans, and one it’s never too early to start better understanding and planning for.

May

2024

Interest Rates FAQ: How the Federal Fund Rate Impacts Your Savings

By Patricia Krueger | Growing Wealth, money, Terminology | Comments Off

It’s been a tumultuous couple of years for interest rates. After reaching a historic low during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve enacted a series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023—culminating in the highest rates in decades—in an effort to fight persistent inflation. So far, in 2024, the Fed has held its rate steady at 5.25% to 5.50%. Though many economists expect rates to decrease this year, the number of cuts, and how steep they might be, remain unclear. And it’s always possible that rates could remain unchanged or even increase if economic conditions shift.

Learn more: SoFi’s Liz Young Thomas Looks at the Fed’s May Statement

Changes to the Fed’s interest rate, or federal funds rate, almost invariably create a ripple effect of changes throughout the economy, impacting interest rates on loans, mortgages, and savings. Here’s a closer look at the Federal Reserve and how its economic outlook and policies can impact your accounts.

Q: What Is the Federal Reserve?

A: The Federal Reserve System was founded by Congress in 1913, with the primary goal of promoting the stability of the U.S. banking system. Since then, the Fed’s mandate and methods have evolved—today the work includes regulating financial institutions, directing monetary policy, managing inflation, and keeping employment rates high. And one of the key levers it pulls to those ends is adjusting the federal funds rate.

Q: What Is the Federal Funds Rate?

A: Banks frequently borrow money from one another to ensure they have sufficient reserves to cover consumer withdrawals and other commitments. The federal funds rate influences the interest rate U.S. banks use when lending money to other banks.

The federal funds rate is set by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is responsible for setting a range of monetary policies that can influence inflation and economic growth. The FOMC is made up of 12 members who meet approximately every six weeks to discuss a range of economic policies, including adjustments to the federal fund rate.

Q: What Factors Influence the Fed’s Rate?

A: The FOMC determines interest rate policy based on a wide range of economic indicators including inflation, employment levels, and durable goods orders data, which can provide insight into the economic health of a variety of industries such as technology, transportation, and manufacturing.

When these market indicators suggest that the economy is languishing, the FOMC may reduce the federal funds rate to make borrowing less expensive in the hopes of boosting economic activity. More money in consumers’ pockets typically means more spending and more money streaming into the economy.

When prices are rising too quickly, the FOMC may increase its interest rate, making it more expensive to borrow. That can slow spending and, in theory, help keep inflation in check.

Q: How Does the Fed Influence My Savings APY?

A: As mentioned above, the federal funds rate directly influences the interest rates banks use to borrow from or lend money to one another. But secondary effects eventually impact the wider economy, including the interest rates banks and financial institutions use when lending money through credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages. It can also affect the annual yield percentage, or APY, for savings accounts.

A federal rate decrease should eventually translate into lower interest rates when you borrow money to buy a house or car. It may also lead to a lower APY on your savings account.

When the federal rate increases, on the other hand, it becomes more expensive to borrow money, and savings account APYs typically increase.

Because most savings account APYs are variable, they tend to rise or fall in the wake of federal rate changes. There are accounts—such as fixed-rate certificates of deposit offered by some banks and credit unions—that have APYs that do not change, regardless of how the federal fund rate fluctuates.

Q: Do Other Factors Influence My Savings APY?

A: Federal fund rate changes have a substantial influence on saving account APYs—but they are not the only factor.

Some banks offer high-yield savings accounts with APYs that are considerably higher than the national average rate. Online-only banks and credit unions, for example, generally have less overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar banks, which may influence their ability to offer higher APYs.

Larger banks tend to be less dependent on deposits than those with a smaller regional presence, for example, so those smaller banks may offer higher rates.

Competition among banks for consumer deposits may also drive changes to the APYs they offer.

Even among these different scenarios, however, the Fed’s interest rate adjustments can still influence whether these banks’ APY rates rise or fall over time.

Q: How Has the Fed Adjusted Rates Recently?

A: After the economic crisis of 2008, the Fed presided over a period of relatively low and stable interest rates. Rates began to tick up gradually in 2015 until the COVID-19 pandemic upended the economy in 2020. The FOMC followed with two steep rate cuts to encourage economic activity, at the time, bringing interest rates down to historic lows.

Since then, as the U.S. has grappled with its highest rate of inflation in decades, the Fed has initiated a series of increases, culminating with a rate of 5.25% to 5.50% in July 2023 — the highest level in 23 years.

Federal Funds Target Rate (2015-2024)

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Q: When Will the Next Rate Change Come?

A: The FOMC typically convenes eight times per year—but it does not necessarily adjust rates at every meeting. In addition, banks and financial institutions sometimes adjust their own interest rates ahead of FOMC meetings, especially when economic conditions or signals from the Fed suggest a rate change may be forthcoming. The Fed publishes the schedule of FOMC meetings on its website.

The Takeaway

While the FOMC sets the federal funds rate to directly influence the rates banks use to lend money to each other, the rate has a broader effect on the U.S. economy, impacting many financial services and products including personal loans, mortgages, and savings accounts.

Photo credit: iStock/Sadeugra

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.50% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.50% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.50% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 8/27/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Our account fee policy is subject to change at any time.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

SOBK-Q224-1878486-V1

May

2024

What Is Regulation T (Reg T) & What Does It Do?

Regulation T (Reg T): All You Need to Know

By Rebecca Lake | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Regulation T, or “Reg T” for short, is a Federal Reserve Board regulation governing the extension of credit from brokerage firms to investors (also called margin accounts). In margin trading, Regulation T is used to determine initial margin requirements. An investor who fails to meet the initial margin requirements may be subject to a Reg T call, which is one type of margin call.

Understanding Regulation T and Regulation T calls is important when trading securities on margin.

What Is Regulation T?

Regulation T is issued by the Federal Reserve Board, pursuant to the 1934 Securities Exchange Act. The purpose of Reg T is to regulate how brokerage firms and broker dealers extend credit to investors in margin trading transactions. Specifically, Regulation T governs initial margin requirements, as well as payment rules that apply to certain types of securities transactions.

Margin trading means an investor borrows money from a brokerage to make investments. This allows the investor to potentially increase their investment without putting up any additional money out of pocket. For example, an investor may be able to put up $10,000 to purchase 100 shares of stock and borrow another $10,000 on margin from their brokerage to double their investment to $20,000.

Regulation T is central to understanding the inner workings of margin accounts. When someone is buying on margin, the assets in their brokerage account serve as collateral for a line of credit from the broker.

The borrowed amount is repaid with interest. Interest rates charged on margin accounts vary according to the brokerage and the amount borrowed. Trading on margin offers an opportunity to amplify returns, but poses the risk of steeper losses as well.

Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.

Borrow against your current investments at just 12%* and start margin trading.

*For full margin details, see terms.

💡 Quick Tip: When you trade using margin, you’re using leverage — i.e. borrowed funds that increase your purchasing power. Remember that whatever you borrow you must repay, with interest.

How Reg T Works

Regulation T works by establishing certain requirements for trading on margin. Specifically, there are three thresholds investors are required to observe when margin buying, one of which is directly determined by Regulation T.

Here’s a closer look at the various requirements to trade on margin:

• Minimum margin. Minimum margin represents the amount an investor must deposit with their brokerage before opening a margin account. Under FINRA rules, this amount must be $2,000 or 100% of the purchase price of the margin securities, whichever is less. Keep in mind that this is FINRA’s rule, and that some brokerages may require a higher minimum margin.

• Initial margin. Initial margin represents the amount an investor is allowed to borrow. Regulation T sets the maximum at 50% of the purchase price of margin securities. Again, though, brokerage firms may require investors to make a larger initial margin deposit.

• Maintenance margin. Maintenance margin represents the minimum amount of margin equity that must be held in the account at all times. If you don’t know what margin equity is, it’s the value of the securities held in your margin account less the amount you owe to the brokerage firm. FINRA sets the minimum maintenance margin at 25% of the total market value of margin securities though brokerages can establish higher limits.

Regulation T’s main function is to limit the amount of credit a brokerage can extend. It’s also used to regulate prohibited activity in cash accounts, which are separate from margin accounts. For example, an investor cannot use a cash account to buy a stock then sell it before the trade settles under Reg T rules. It may be beneficial to review the basics of leveraged trading to deepen your understanding, too.

Why Regulation T Exists

Margin trading can be risky and Regulation T is intended to limit an investor’s potential for losses. If an investor were able to borrow an unlimited amount of credit from their brokerage account to trade, they could potentially realize much larger losses over time if their investments fail to pay off.

Regulation T also ensures that investors have some skin in the game, so to speak, by requiring them to use some of their own money to invest. This can be seen as an indirect means of risk management, since an investor who’s using at least some of their own money to trade on margin may be more likely to calculate risk/reward potential and avoid reckless decision-making.

Example of Reg T

Regulation T establishes a 50% baseline for the amount an investor is required to deposit with a brokerage before trading on margin. So, for example, say you want to open a margin account. You make the minimum margin deposit of $2,000, as required by FINRA. You want to purchase 100 shares of stock valued at $100 each, which result in a total purchase price of $10,000.

Under Regulation T, the most you’d be able to borrow from your brokerage to complete the trade is $5,000. You’d have to deposit another $5,000 of your own money into your brokerage account to meet the initial margin requirement. Or, if your brokerage sets the bar higher at 60% initial margin, you’d need to put up $6,000 in order to borrow the remaining $4,000.

Why You Might Receive a Regulation T Call

Understanding the initial margin requirements is important for avoiding a Regulation T margin call. In general, a margin call happens when you fail to meet your brokerage’s requirements for trading in a margin account. Reg T calls occur when you fall short of the initial margin requirements. This can happen, for instance, if you’re trading options on margin or if you have an ACH deposit transaction that’s later reversed.

Regulation T margin calls are problematic because you can’t make any additional trades in your account until you deposit money to meet the 50% initial margin requirement. If you don’t have cash on hand to deposit, then the brokerage can sell off securities in your account until the initial margin requirement is met.

Brokerages don’t always have to ask your permission to do this. They may not have to notify you first that they intend to sell your securities either. So that’s why it’s important to fully understand the Reg T requirements to ensure that your account is always in good standing with regard to initial margin limits.

💡 Quick Tip: When you’re actively investing in stocks, it’s important to ask what types of fees you might have to pay. For example, brokers may charge a flat fee for trading stocks, or require some commission for every trade. Taking the time to manage investment costs can be beneficial over the long term.

The Takeaway

Regulation T is used to determine initial margin requirements — i.e. the amount of cash an investor must keep available relative to the amount they’ve borrowed. Margin trading may be profitable for investors, though it’s important to understand the risks involved. Specifically, investors need to know what could trigger a Regulation T margin call, and what that might mean for their portfolios.

An investor who fails to meet the initial margin requirements may be subject to a Reg T call, which is problematic because they are restricted from making additional trades until they deposit the 50% initial margin requirement. If the investor doesn’t have cash on hand to deposit, then the brokerage can sell off securities in the account until the initial margin requirement is met.

If you’re an experienced trader and have the risk tolerance to try out trading on margin, consider enabling a SoFi margin account. With a SoFi margin account, experienced investors can take advantage of more investment opportunities, and potentially increase returns. That said, margin trading is a high-risk endeavor, and using margin loans can amplify losses as well as gains.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

Photo credit: iStock/loveguli

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes.
*Borrow at 12%. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see SoFi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

SOIN-Q224-1885772-V1

May

2024

What Is Market Value? How to Calculate and Use It

Market Value: Definition and Methods to Calculate It

By Laurel Tincher | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing, Terminology | Comments Off

Market value is a common term used in value investing to describe how much a company or asset is worth on exchanges and financial markets. Essentially it is the value of a security in the eyes of market investors. Understanding the current standing of a business in its particular industry and the broader market is important when making investing decisions.

Key Points

• Market value is the price at which an asset would trade in a competitive auction setting.

• It is determined by multiplying the current share price by the number of outstanding shares.

• Factors influencing market value include company performance, industry trends, and overall market conditions.

• Market value can fluctuate greatly over time due to changes in investor sentiment and market dynamics.

• Various methods to calculate market value include income approaches, asset-based approaches, and market comparison approaches.

What Is Market Value?

Market value, also referred to as OMV, market capitalization, or “open market valuation,” is the price of an asset in an investment marketplace or the value the asset has within a community of investors. It is calculated by multiplying current share price in a marketplace by the number of outstanding shares. Read on to learn what market value is and how to calculate market value.

The market value represents the price that investors will pay for an asset, and therefore changes significantly over time. The more investors will pay for the asset, the higher the market value.

What investors are willing to pay depends on various factors, including the fundamentals of the asset itself, as well as the business cycle and current levels of demand for that asset. Market value could be anything from under $1 million for small businesses to more than $1 trillion for large corporations.

It’s easy to determine the market value of frequently traded assets (by looking at their current prices), but harder to determine the market value of illiquid assets, such as real estate or a company, that don’t trade very often. Market value per share is a company’s market value divided by its number of shares.

Factors that Impact Market Value

Many factors determine market value, including a company’s profitability and its debt levels. Market value fluctuates significantly over time. Market values often move in tandem with the overall market sentiment.

During bull markets or economic expansions, market values often increase, and during bear markets they go down. Other factors influencing market value include:

• The company’s performance

• Long-term growth potential

• Supply and demand of the asset

• Company profitability

• Company debt

• Overall market trends

• Industry trends

• Valuation ratios such as earnings per share, book value per share, and price-to-earnings ratio (P/E ratio)

Earnings per Share

The higher a company’s earnings per share, the more profitable it is. A more profitable business has a higher market value, and vice versa.

Book Value per Share

Investors calculate a company’s book value per share by dividing its equity by its total outstanding shares. A company with a higher book value than market value may have an undervalued stock.

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio)

Investors calculate P/E ratio by dividing a company’s current stock price by its earnings per share amount. A higher P/E ratio means a stock’s price market value might be high relative to its earnings.

How Is Market Value Calculated?

There are multiple ways to calculate market value. Here’s a look at a few of them:

Income method

There are two methods of calculating market value using income:

• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): To find discounted cash flow, investors project a company’s future cash flow and then discount it to find its present value. The amount it gets discounted reflects current market interest rates along with the amount of risk the business has.

• Capitalized Earnings Method: With capitalized earnings, investors find the value of a stable, income-producing property by taking its net operating income over time and dividing it by the capitalization rate. The capitalization rate is an estimate of how much potential return on investment the asset has.

Assets Method

Using the assets approach, investors find an asset’s fair market value (FMV) by determining how many liabilities and adjusted assets a company has, including intangible assets, unrecorded liabilities, and off-balance sheet assets.

Market method

Using a market-based approach, there are a few more ways market value can be determined:

• Public Company Comparable: This company compares similar businesses that are in the same industry or region and about the same size. Ratios like P/E, EV/Revenue, and EV/EBITDA can help compare all the similar companies.

• Precedent Transactions: Using the precedent transactions method, market value reflects how much investors paid for other similar company’s stock in previous transactions. Investors can get a sense of how much a company’s value is by looking at similar companies.

Example of Market Value

Using the capitalized earnings valuation method, here’s an example of the market value calculation. The formula used when calculating via capitalized earnings is as such:

Market value = Earnings/capitalization rate

Earnings are rather self-explanatory, and the capitalization rate is the required rate of return for investors, a number reached by subtracting a company’s expected growth rate from the investor’s expected rate of return. For this example, we’ll make things simple and say that the capitalization rate is 10%, and the company’s earnings are $1 million

Using the formula: Market value = $1 million/10%

That calculates to $10,000,000.

💡 Quick Tip: Look for an online brokerage with low trading commissions as well as no account minimum. Higher fees can cut into investment returns over time.

Limitations of Market Value

Market value is a very useful tool for understanding how much a company is worth and whether it is a good time to invest or sell its stock. However, it has a few limitations:

• Fluctuation: Company stocks go up and down every day, and, therefore market value also always changes. Various factors affect market value, and it is very dynamic, which is important for investors to keep in mind when making trading decisions.

• Precedent data: It’s easier to find market value for established businesses because it requires historical pricing data to find it. New businesses don’t have such data, making it harder for investors to determine their market value.

The Takeaway

Market value is very useful for analyzing a stock. It is easiest to calculate market value of assets such as stocks and futures that are traded on exchanges because it is easy to access their market prices. Market value for less frequently traded assets can be difficult and requires some assumptions and calculations.

Calculating market value can be useful for investors of all stripes, but it can be easy to get lost in the math. Be sure to double-check your math and consider the limitations of market value before making investing decisions.

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

FAQ

Is market value the same as market capitalization?

Market value is the price at which a buyer purchases an asset, and can refer to a company or a security such as a stock, future, or asset. Market cap is the value of the total number of outstanding shares of a company, based on their current market value.

Is market value the same as book value?

Market value and book value per share, or explicit value, are different and can be very different amounts, but they are often used in conjunction by investors looking to gain an understanding of an asset’s value. Book value is the net value of a company’s balance sheet assets, while market value is the price at which a buyer purchases an asset.

Photo credit: iStock/SeventyFour

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SOIN0124042

Bull vs Bear Market: What’s the Difference?

What Is a Bull Market?

What Is a Bear Market?

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.*

Access stock trading, options, auto investing, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.

Bull vs Bear: Main Differences

How Is Investing Different During a Bull Market vs a Bear Market?

Investing During a Bull Market

Investing During a Bear Market

Examples of Bull and Bear Markets

The Takeaway

9 Common Social Security Myths You Need to Know About

Interest Rates FAQ: How the Federal Fund Rate Impacts Your Savings

Q: What Is the Federal Reserve?

Q: What Is the Federal Funds Rate?

Q: What Factors Influence the Fed’s Rate?

Q: How Does the Fed Influence My Savings APY?

Q: Do Other Factors Influence My Savings APY?

Q: How Has the Fed Adjusted Rates Recently?

Q: When Will the Next Rate Change Come?

The Takeaway

Regulation T (Reg T): All You Need to Know

What Is Regulation T?

Increase your buying power with a margin loan from SoFi.

Borrow against your current investments at just 12%* and start margin trading.

How Reg T Works

Why Regulation T Exists

Example of Reg T

Why You Might Receive a Regulation T Call

The Takeaway

Market Value: Definition and Methods to Calculate It

What Is Market Value?

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.*

Access stock trading, options, auto investing, IRAs, and more. Get started in just a few minutes.

Factors that Impact Market Value

Earnings per Share

Book Value per Share

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio)

How Is Market Value Calculated?

Income method

Assets Method

Market method

Example of Market Value

Limitations of Market Value

The Takeaway

FAQ

Is market value the same as market capitalization?

Is market value the same as book value?

CATEGORIES

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Student Loan Refinancing

Personal Loans

Online Investments

Other

Student Loan
Refinancing

Personal
Loans

Online
Investments