Carrying Value vs. Fair Value: What's the Difference?

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Carrying Value vs. Fair Value: An Overview

The carrying value and the fair value are two different accounting measures used to determine the value of a company's assets.

The carrying value, or book value, is an asset value based on the company's balance sheet, which takes the cost of the asset and subtracts its depreciation over time. The fair value of an asset is usually determined by the market and agreed upon by a willing buyer and seller, and it can fluctuate often. In other words, the carrying value generally reflects equity, while the fair value reflects the current market price.

Because the fair value of an asset can be more volatile than its carrying value or book value, it's possible for big discrepancies to occur between the two measures. The market value can be higher or lower than the carrying value at any time. These differences usually aren't examined until assets are appraised or sold to help determine if they're undervalued or overvalued.

Key Takeaways

• The carrying value and the fair value are two different accounting measures used to determine the value of a company's assets.
• The carrying value of an asset is based on the figures from a company's balance sheet.
• Carrying value is often used for bookkeeping and tax purposes.
• The fair value of an asset is the amount paid in a transaction between participants if it's sold in the open market.
• Fair market value is most often used by market participants.

Carrying Value

The carrying value of an asset is based on the figures from a company's balance sheet. When a company initially acquires an asset, its carrying value is the same as its original cost. However, this changes over time. To calculate the carrying value or book value of an asset at any point in time, you must subtract any accumulated depreciation, amortization, or impairment expenses from its original cost.

Example of Carrying Value

Let's say company ABC bought a 3D printing machine to design prototypes of its product. The 3D printing machine costs $50,000 and has a depreciation expense of $3,000 per year over its useful life of 15 years under the straight-line basis of calculating depreciation and amortization.

Straight-line depreciation is a simple way to calculate the loss of an asset's carrying value over time. This calculation is particularly useful for physical assets—such as a piece of equipment—that a company might sell in whole or in parts at the end of its useful life. Therefore, the book value of the 3D printing machine after 15 years is $5,000, or $50,000 - ($3,000 x 15).

Carrying Value

Fair Value

Different from the carrying value, the fair value of assets and liabilities is calculated on a mark-to-market accounting basis. In other words, the fair value of an asset is the amount paid in a transaction between participants if it's sold in the open market. A willing buyer and seller have agreed upon this value. Due to the changing nature of open markets, however, the fair value of an asset can fluctuate greatly over time.

Example of Fair Value

Let's say an investment company has long positions in stocks in its portfolio. By having long positions, the company anticipates favorable market conditions, also known as a "bull market." The company is holding onto these stocks with the expectation they will rise in price over time.

The investment company's original cost of these assets was $6 million. However, after two negative gross domestic product (GDP) rates, the market experiences a significant downturn. The company's portfolio falls 40% in value, to $3.6 million. Therefore, the fair value of the asset is $3.6 million, or $6 million - ($6 million x 0.40).

Determining the fair value of an asset can be difficult if a competitive, open market for it doesn't exist—an unusual piece of equipment in a manufacturing plant, for example.

Fair Value

Is Carrying Value the Same as Book Value?

Both book value and carrying value refer to the accounting value of assets held on a balance sheet, and they are often used interchangeably. "Carrying" here refers to carrying assets on the firm's books (i.e., the balance sheet).

How Do You Determine Fair Value?

The fair value of an asset or security is often determined by the market, at a price agreed upon by a willing buyer and seller. This can be determined by the forces of supply and demand, by a valuation model, or several other methods, depending on the particular asset or security involved.

How Do You Determine Carrying Value?

Carrying value is typically determined by taking the original cost of the asset, less depreciation.

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