Fair value and target price are not the same but they are related concepts in investment analysis.
- Fair Value represents the actual value of an asset that is agreed upon by both the seller and the buyer. It is a measure of the current market value of an asset. Fair value takes into account various factors such as recent transactions for similar assets, expected earnings, and the cost to replace the asset12.
- Target Price, on the other hand, is an estimate of a security's future price set by analysts. It is based on the analyst's assessment of a company's financial health, market conditions, and growth potential. Target prices are often used to indicate where an analyst believes a stock price will be in a certain timeframe, typically 12 to 18 months34.
In summary, fair value is a snapshot of the current market value of an asset, while a target price is a forecast of where a stock price may go in the future.