How to Use the Unlisted Stock Valuation Calculator
The comparable P/E method values a private company by multiplying its net profit by the average P/E ratio of similar public companies. Enterprise value = Net Profit × Industry P/E. Since private shares are less liquid than public ones, an illiquidity discount of 20–40% is then applied to reach the final estimate.
For example, a company earning $500,000 with an industry P/E of 18 has a base value of $9,000,000. After a 30% illiquidity discount, the adjusted value is $6,300,000. Divide by total shares to get a per-share fair value. This is a single-method estimate — real transactions depend on growth prospects, deal structure, and negotiation, so use this as a starting reference only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use the most recent fiscal year's net income for stable businesses. For companies with volatile earnings, average the last 2–3 years. Exclude one-time items (asset sales, litigation proceeds) to reflect normalized profitability.
Search for 3–5 public companies with similar business models, size, and growth on Yahoo Finance, Finviz, or Bloomberg. Compute their simple average P/E ratio and use that as your benchmark.
This P/E method is best suited for profitable businesses. Startups with no earnings are typically valued using revenue multiples (P/S ratio), user metrics, or DCF with projected future earnings. The illiquidity discount still applies.