The Value of Intangible Assets

In April 2001 the Market to Book Value of the S&P 500 was about six (for every $6 of value, $1 appeared on the balance sheets). At least part of the difference was intangibles. Brooking Institute's research suggested that in 2002, 15 percent of company value was based on tangible assets (compared to 62 percent in 1982), meaning 85 percent of the value resulted from intangibles.

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