Net asset value (NAV) is a measure of the worth of a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF). It is the total market value of the funds investments, minus liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. NAV can also be referred to as the funds book value.
The value of a funds investments is derived from the value of the underlying securities it holds. For example, if a fund holds 500 shares of Intel Corporation (INTC) stock valued at $25 per share, then the total value of the funds holdings in Intel is 500 x $25 = $12,500. After subtracting any liabilities, such as debt, the net asset value of the investments is determined.
In order to calculate the NAV, the total market value of the investments must be divided by the number of shares outstanding. For example, if the fund had 1,000 shares outstanding with a net asset value of $12,500, the NAV per share would be $12.50 (12,500 divided by 1,000).
The NAV is an important measure for mutual funds (and ETFs) because it indicates how much a share of the fund is worth and how much youll receive for each share you purchase. It is also important for investors to understand that the value of a funds investments can change from day to day. This means that the NAV can fluctuate from day to day, even if the number of shares outstanding doesnt change.
For example, if a fund holds 500 shares of Intel valued at $25 per share, then the funds NAV is $12.50 per share. If the price of Intel suddenly drops to $20 per share, then the funds NAV would drop to $10 per share ($10,000 divided by 1,000). This illustrates how the NAV of a fund can change even if the number of shares outstanding remains the same.
NAV is also used to calculate the fund’s return. To calculate a funds return, the fund’s beginning NAV is subtracted from its ending NAV and then divided by the beginning NAV. For example, if a funds NAV at the beginning of the year is $12.50 per share and it rises to $13.50 per share at the end of the year, then the fund’s return is 8% ($13.50 – $12.50 divided by $12.50).
NAV provides investors with a useful way to compare the performance of different funds. For example, if two funds have similar investments and have the same number of outstanding shares, then the fund with the higher NAV is outperforming the other fund.
In short, net asset value is a useful measure of the worth of a mutual fund or ETF. It allows investors to easily compare the performance of different funds and to determine the value of their investments in the fund.