Face Value

The amount mentioned on a banknote, bill, or certificate

What is Face Value?

The value mentioned on an instrument like a coin, stamp, or bill is called the face value of that instrument. For example, a $100 bill comes with a face value of $100. In calculus, the face value of 3 in 546738 is 3 itself.

Face Value

Summary

Face value is the amount displayed on a banknote, bill, or certificate. Its numeral amount always remains constant unless the instrument is broken into pieces, i.e., a stock split.
The face value was established many years ago to make sure companies didn’t sell shares below a specific price.

Significance of Face Value

In the era of digitalization, shareholders do not receive certificates of their holdings. Instead, their holdings are stored in digital forms. Hence, in such a case, face value becomes less important.

Years ago, face value was used to make sure companies didn’t sell shares below a specific price. They were also set to protect the investor in the days of limited information. It also gave the investors confidence in knowing how much their investments were worth. The face value also benefited the issuers. By setting a value to the instrument, they would expect to sell nothing less than the face value.

Also, face value is important in the calculation of bond prices. The interest on the bond is based on its face value. Unlike stocks, the price of a bond is profoundly based on the face value of the bond.

Face Value in Accounting

Financial instruments can either be sold at face value, at a discount, or for a premium. For example, when interest rates rise, the demand for the lower interest-paying bond will go down. Hence, the issuer will sell the bonds for a discount to make them more attractive.

Face Value vs. Market Value vs. Book Value

The market value of an instrument is the current price one would receive if they sold it in the market. For example, the current stock price of Apple (AAPL) is $135. Hence, the amount is its current market value. Below is the formula for the market value of a public company:

Market Value = Number of Shares Outstanding x Market Value Per Share

The book value of an instrument is the price that the current holder of the instrument purchased it for. For the shareholders of a company, the book value of the company is the net equity of the company on the balance sheet.

For example, a company issues the shares for the first time for $100. A year later, as per the company’s financial statements, the equity value (total assets – total liabilities) increased to $120. The stock is trading on the stock exchange for $125. In such a case, the face value of the stock is $100, the book value is $120, and the market value is $125.

When Does the Face Value Change?

The face value of an instrument doesn’t change except in the case of a stock split. During a stock split, shares are split into more shares. For example, a company announces a 2-for-1 stock split, which means a shareholder who owns one share will get two shares after the split. In such a case, the face value of the shares will also change.

In the example, if the stock’s original face value is $100, it would change to $50 after the split. The rationale behind the stock split is to reduce the price of the stocks so that they become more accessible to a broader base of investors.

For example, Tesla announced a 5-to-1 stock split in September 2020. It means a holder of one share received five shares. The stock split led to Tesla’s share price being reduced from $2,213.40 per share to $444.60.

Face Value of an Insurance Policy

The face value of an insurance product is the death benefit, i.e., the amount that is paid out when the insured passes away. For example, a life insurance policy taken for $1 million is the face value of the insurance policy. The higher the face value, the higher the monthly or annual premium payments will be.

Below are some of the reasons why the face value of an insurance policy could change:

If the policyholder takes a loan against their policy, the face value of the policy could decrease as they are withdrawing money from the policy.
If the cash value or the interest accumulated on the insurance policy goes beyond a certain extent, the face value of the policy will go up.
Certain conditions or riders on the policy – like disability claims – will increase the cash payout, thereby increasing the face value of the policy.

Additional Resources

CFI is the official provider of the Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®) certification program, designed to transform anyone into a world-class financial analyst.

In order to help you become a world-class financial analyst and advance your career to your fullest potential, these additional resources will be very helpful: