Key Takeaways Warren Buffett has pointed out that book value can significantly misstate the intrinsic value of a business. He prefers using intrinsic value, "the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life." Buffett goes so far as to say, "In all cases, what is clear is that book value is meaningless as an indicator of intrinsic value." Warren Buffett has repeatedly reminded investors that book value is often a poor measure of a business. The calculation itself is simple: take the total assets minus liabilities. But book value, Buffett says,…
