In value stock analysis, most investors use the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to search for lucrative stocks. However, there are other ratios that an investor can consider like the price-to-sales ratio (P/S) and price-to-book (P/B) ratio. The P/S ratio is simply price divided by sales. One of the reasons the P/S ratio is a better choice is that it looks at sales rather than earnings. However, the P/B ratio, though used less often, is also an easy-to-use valuation tool for identifying low-priced stocks with great returns. The P/B ratio is calculated as below: P/B ratio = market capitalization/book value of equity The P/B ratio helps to identify low-priced stocks with high growth prospects. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), Paysafe Limited (NYSE: PSFE), The ODP Corporation (NASDAQ: ODP), Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE: TPH) and KB Home (NYSE: KBH) are some such stocks. Now, let us understand the concept of book value. What is Book Value? There are several ways by which book value can be defined. Book value is the total value that would be left over, according to the company's balance sheet, if it goes bankrupt immediately. In other words, this is what shareholders would theoretically receive if a company liquidates all its assets after paying off all its liabilities. It is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from the total assets of a company. In most cases, this equates to common stockholders' equity on the balance sheet. However, depending on the company's balance sheet, intangible assets should also be subtracted from the total assets to determine book value. Understanding P/B Ratio By comparing the book value of equity to its market price, we get an idea of whether a company is under or overpriced. However, like P/E or P/S ratio, it is always better to compare P/B ratios within industries. A P/B ratio of less than one means that the stock is trading at less than its book value or the stock is undervalued and, therefore, a good buy. Conversely, a stock with a ratio greater than one can be ...