Is it better to have a higher or lower NAV?

Asked by: Isidro Mitchell  |  Last update: October 28, 2025
Score: 5/5 (39 votes)

As dividends are paid out on face value, higher NAV will result in lower absolute dividends due to the smaller number of units. But even here, total returns will remain the same. So, from whichever angle you see it, the NAV makes no difference to returns. Mutual fund schemes have to be judged on their performance.

Is higher NAV better or lower?

A higher NAV isn't inherently better. It reflects the fund's asset value, not its potential returns.

What is a good NAV value?

What is a good NAV for a mutual fund? There's no single "good" NAV for a mutual fund. A high NAV simply reflects the total value of the fund's assets per unit. Focus on the fund's performance history, expense ratio, and alignment with your goals.

What is a good price to NAV ratio?

If you can buy a share at a big discount to its book value (a price to NAV a lot less than 1) then it might be possible to make money from it when business conditions improve. History tells us that this can be a very profitable investment strategy.

Is a discount to NAV good or bad?

If investment trust shares are trading at a discount to NAV it can give the impression that the shares are cheap because the fund isn't worth investing in. Although this isn't always the case, boards don't want investors to be put off by a discount that is too wide.

Mutual funds: High vs low NAV? | This or That

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Should I invest more when NAV is low?

When investing in mutual funds, NAV is not a meaningful indicator of the fund's future performance or suitability. Whether a fund has a high or low NAV should not be the primary factor in your decision-making process. Instead, focus on: Fund consistency in performance over different time periods.

What does 5% discount to the NAV mean?

A discount to net asset value (NAV) occurs when the market price of shares of a closed-end fund is lower than the fund's net asset value per share. The NAV is calculated by dividing the total value of all the securities in the portfolio, minus any liabilities, by the number of the fund's shares outstanding.

How do I know if an ETF is overpriced?

Compare the ETF's Market Price to the NAV

Compare the market price to the NAV to determine if the ETF is trading at a premium or discount to its NAV. If the market price is higher than the NAV, the ETF is trading at a premium. If the NAV is lower than the price, the ETF is trading at a discount.

Why do REITs trade below NAV?

According to the noise theory, fluctuations in departures from NAV are caused by changes in investor sentiment. That is, when investors become (irrationally) pessimistic about REITs, the value of REIT shares is pushed below their true, underlying value.

What does NAV tell you?

NAV stands for net asset value. In finance, it is used to evaluate the value of a firm or an investment fund by subtracting its liabilities from assets.

What is the fair value of the NAV?

Represents the excess of the fair value of investments owned, cash, receivables, and other assets over the liabilities of the reporting entity.

What happens when NAV decreases?

Similarly, the NAV of the fund decreases if the value of securities of a fund declines with time. However, for investors, only the amount invested and the returns generated actually matter, while the scheme NAV and number of units purchased are, in fact, irrelevant.

Why is NAV higher than price?

The price of an ETF may deviate from the NAV of the ETF due to changes in the supply or demand for an ETF at any single point in time. The market price will typically exceed the NAV if the fund is in high demand with low supply. The NAV will generally be higher if the fund has a high supply with little demand.

What should be NAV?

Net asset value is the value of an investment fund determined by subtracting its liabilities from its assets. Per-share NAV is calculated by dividing NAV by the number of shares outstanding. Funds can be open or closed and the pricing of each share is based on NAV.

How much expense ratio is good in mutual funds?

Good expense ratios can vary depending on whether the fund is actively or passively managed. Typically, expense ratios between 0.5% and 0.75% are considered 'good' for actively managed funds. Ratios above 1.5% are considered high.

When to buy mutual funds?

According to experts, you should think about buying mutual funds when their NAV (Net Asset Value) is lower than their unit price. This will assist you to maximise your returns. Additionally, you should think about investing when the markets are at their lowest point. You can then purchase the shares at lower prices.

Should I buy when NAV is high or low?

The notion that a Mutual Fund's performance is inversely related to its NAV is a misconception. NAV is simply the per unit value of the fund and it does not reflect its quality or potential. For example, a fund with an NAV of Rs 22 is not necessarily superior or inferior to one with an NAV of Rs 85.

How do you tell if a REIT is overvalued?

Investors typically compare the REIT's price-to-FFO ratio with industry peers or market averages to assess whether the REIT is fairly valued. A lower price-to-FFO ratio may indicate that the REIT is undervalued, while a higher ratio suggests it may be overvalued relative to its cash-generating capacity.

Why would a company sell shares below NAV?

However, new shares can be sold at a discount to their NAV. If the shares aren't trading at a premium, but the fund manager sees an investment opportunity that requires more money, the trust may issue new shares at a discount below NAV.

Why would an ETF trade above NAV?

Since market prices are ruled by supply and demand, an ETF's market price can diverge from its NAV. If there's heavy demand from buyers, the price of an ETF can increase above its NAV (a premium). Conversely, if there's heavy sell-side pressure, the price can dip below the NAV (a discount).

Can ETFs go to zero?

Over even longer time horizons, every percentile (except the 100th) of the ETF's value will eventually converge to zero. This is not to say that rebalancing is always bad. Rebalancing a portfolio with positive expected growth will enhance median returns over time.

Do you buy or sell at NAV?

For all mutual funds, the price at which you buy, sell, and exchange shares is the “net asset value” per share, also known as NAV.

Why not buy closed-end funds?

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee a fund's investment objective will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value (NAV).

What does NAV per share tell you?

Summary. The Net Asset Value Per Share (NAVPS) is a real estate metric that indicates the value of a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The NAVPS is obtained by dividing the net asset value (total assets less liabilities) of a fund by the number of outstanding shares.