Graham’s Number

Definition:

The Graham Number is a conservative, intrinsic-value formula created by Benjamin Graham (the father of value investing) to estimate the maximum fair price an investor should pay for a stock based on its earnings and book value.

🔢 Formula

\text{Graham Number} = \sqrt{22.5 \times EPS \times BVPS}

Where:

• EPS = Earnings Per Share

• BVPS = Book Value Per Share

• The constant 22.5 = (P/E ratio limit of 15) × (P/B ratio limit of 1.5), representing Graham’s conservative valuation rule.

💡 Interpretation

• If a stock’s current price < Graham Number, it may be undervalued.

• If it’s above, it may be overvalued, assuming stable earnings and accounting accuracy.

📊 Example

Suppose a company has:

• EPS = ₹50

• BVPS = ₹400

Then,

\text{Graham Number} = \sqrt{22.5 \times 50 \times 400} = \sqrt{450,000} ≈ ₹671

If the stock trades at ₹550, it’s below the Graham Number — potentially a value buy.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• A quick check for value investors.

• Works best for stable, non-cyclical companies.

• Doesn’t account for future growth or qualitative factors.

• Part of Graham’s broader philosophy of “Margin of Safety.”

Regards

Shining Stars 🌟🌟🌟

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