P/S and P/B are two distinct abbreviations with different meanings in the context of business and finance.
- P/S (Price-to-Sales Ratio):
- Definition: The P/S ratio is a valuation metric used to compare a company's stock price to its revenues12 It helps investors understand how much the market values each dollar of a company's sales2.
- Calculation: It is calculated by dividing the company's market capitalization by its total sales over a designated period, usually twelve months1. Alternatively, it can be calculated on a per-share basis by dividing the stock price by sales per share3.
- Usage: The P/S ratio is particularly useful for comparing the value of companies in the same industry, as it provides a measure of the market's valuation of a company's sales2.
- P/B (Price-to-Book Ratio):
- Definition: The P/B ratio is a financial metric that compares a company's market value to its book value67 It indicates how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of the company's assets as listed on the balance sheet6.
- Calculation: It is calculated by dividing the stock price per share by the book value per share (BVPS), which is the value of a company's assets minus liabilities6
- Usage: The P/B ratio is used by investors to identify potential investments and to compare a company's market value to its asset value. A P/B ratio below 1 suggests that the market value of the company is less than its book value, which may indicate an undervaluation6.
In summary, the P/S ratio relates a company's stock price to its sales, while the P/B ratio connects the stock price to the company's book value. Both ratios are used by investors to assess the value of a company, but they reflect different aspects of a company's financial status.