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Tangible Assets vs. Intangible Assets: Understand the Key Differences

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Synopsis:


Tangible and intangible assets are the two most prominent types of assets in a company’s balance sheet. While tangible assets can be seen and touched, Read more..intangible assets do not have a physical form. Examples of tangible assets are land, plant, equipment, machinery, etc. Examples of intangible assets include trademarks, brand names, goodwill, patents, etc. Typically, manufacturing companies have tangible assets, as they need plant and machinery to make goods. Usually, entertainment companies have copyrights, and pharma and tech companies have patents. Read less

Tangible and Intangible Assets

There are various types of assets and there are several ways to categorise them. Tangible and intangible assets is one of the most common ways to differentiate between assets. Tangible assets can be seen and touched, as they have a physical form. However, intangible assets cannot be seen or touched because they do not have a physical form. That said, both these assets are important for companies to generate revenue and cashflows. Having understood what tangible and intangible assets are at a basic level, let us delver deeper into this topic.

What are Tangible Assets?

Tangible assets have a physical form, and they also have a monetary value. Typically, such assets can be bought and sold easily in a market. As they can be seen and touched, their value can be ascertained relatively easily compared to intangible assets. That said, the value of tangible assets depreciates over a period of time due to their usage. You can find such assets on a company’s balance sheet typically under long-term assets. To maintain such assets, companies have to pay costs related to storage, insurance, etc. Now that we have learnt what tangible assets are, let us discuss their examples.

Examples of Tangible Assets

The most prominent examples of tangible assets include land, plant & machinery, equipment, furniture, vehicles, inventory, etc. To what extent a company has these assets depends upon the nature of its business. For example, a real-estate development company will have significant investments in land. However, a manufacturing company will have substantial investments in plant and machinery. All the examples given above are physical assets; however, we can also have financial tangible assets. For example, investments in stocks and debentures are examples of financial tangible assets. Even cash is a kind of a financial tangible asset.

What are Intangible Assets?

Intangible assets do not have a physical form. Hence, they cannot be seen or touched. A business can create them or acquire them from someone else. Like tangible assets, intangible assets are also reported under long-term assets in most cases. Their value also depletes over a period of time. However, in some cases, their value can also increase. Having discussed what intangible assets are, let us talk about their examples.

Examples of Intangible Assets

The most prominent types of intangible assets include patents, trademarks, goodwill, brand name, etc. These assets do not have a physical form; however, they can help a business immensely. For example, the brand “Adidas” is extremely popular in footwear and apparel categories. Anyone who wants to acquire Adidas has to pay for its brand name, apart from paying for its other assets. Besides, the value of a brand name can increase over time if it is managed well. This is quite unlike tangible assets, which typically depreciate over a period. Many pharma companies have product and process patents. If they discover a drug that no one has, they file a product patent. However, if they find a new process to make an existing drug, they file a process patent.

Key Differences Between Tangible and Intangible Assets

The main differences between tangible and intangible assets are described below:

Tangible Assets

Intangible Assets

These assets have a physical form and shape. Hence, they can be seen and touched.

These assets do not have a physical form or shape. Hence, they cannot be seen or touched.

Prominent examples of tangible assets include land, machinery, plant, equipment, vehicle, stocks, debentures, cash and cash equivalents.

Main examples of intangible assets include brand names, goodwill, patents, and trademarks.

The value of tangible assets decreases over a period of time due to their usage. Companies record a depreciation charge on their profit & loss account to report depletion in the value of their tangible assets.

There are intangible assets with a definite life, like patents and copyrights. Companies with such assets can utilise them for a definite period. Hence, their value decreases over time. Therefore, companies record an expense called amortisation to report the depletion in their value.

That said, we also have intangible assets with an indefinite life, like brand name, goodwill, and trademarks. As they have an indefinite life, their value is not amortised. Instead, companies ascertain their value every year. If their value decreases, companies record impairment in their income statement. However, their value can also increase.

Tangible assets are easier to buy and sell compared to intangible assets because they have a physical form.

As intangible assets cannot be seen or touched, they are relatively more difficult to buy and sell than tangible assets.

Due to their physical nature, tangible assets are prone to physical risks, like damage and theft.

Intangible assets are exposed to risks on account of obsolescence and infringement.

Typically, manufacturing companies have significant tangible assets, as they need plant and machines to manufacture products.

Usually, tech companies have patents, entertainment companies have copyrights, and pharma companies have patents.

Valuing Intangible Assets

While valuing intangible assets, you should select a method based on the asset you are valuing and the context. Find below the most effective valuation methods for intangible assets:

  • Cost Method: A business can use the cost method to ascertain the value of an intangible asset it has. Under this, we consider the cost required to replace or recreate the intangible asset we have. Suppose a company acquired a software from another company. It can use this method by considering all the expenses it would have incurred to acquire or develop the software.

  • Market Method: Under this method, we compare an intangible asset to similar assets being sold in the market. Those assets have to be in the same category as the asset we intend to value. Suppose a company wants to value its trademark. It can check the price of similar trademarks from its industry. This method works well only when we have sufficient market data of similar intangible assets.

  • Income Method: Under this method, we consider the economic benefits we can earn from an intangible asset in the future. We either consider income or cash flows expected from an asset. Then, we discount those future flows with an appropriate rate to arrive at their present value. This method is commonly used to value copyrights and patents.

  • Qualitative Metrics: We have discussed quantitative methods to value intangible assets so far. However, even qualitative metrics are used for this purpose, particularly when it is difficult to use quantitative methods. For example, it is tough to use number-based methods to value a brand. The value of a brand depends upon customer loyalty, reputation, brand recognition, etc. Such factors can be assessed by taking an expert’s opinion or by market research.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to understand the meaning of tangible and intangible assets. However, when analysing how a company’s value depends upon its tangible and intangible assets, things can be a bit tricky. For example, the methods used to value land may be different from the ones used to value machinery. Besides, we may use altogether different methods to value a company’s trademark. Therefore, for market participants, it is as important to understand the nature of an asset as it is to understand different methods to value various kinds of assets.

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a tangible asset better than an intangible asset?

Answer Field

It is tough to say whether a tangible asset is better than an intangible asset. The answer to this question depends upon the nature of such assets and what value they bring to a business.

What are the main types of intangible assets?

Answer Field

The main types of intangible assets include trademarks, goodwill, brand names, patents, and copyrights.

Are fixed assets considered intangible or tangible assets?

Answer Field

As fixed assets have a physical form, they are considered tangible assets.

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