How to Calculate Fair Value for a Stock

Calculate the P/E ratio. The formula used to calculate the P/E ratio is 'current stock price per share' / ' current earnings per share.'
Compare the P/E ratio for your company with other companies in the same industry. For instance, if you want to find the fair value for a bank, you must compare the P/E ratio to other P/E ratios in the banking industry.
Interpret the meaning of the P/E ratio. A high P/E ratio means the company is overvalued and a low P/E ratio means the company is undervalued. For instance, if I own a company with a P/E ratio of 5 when the average P/E ratio for companies in the same industry is 3, I know that my stock is overvalued (expensive).
Adjust the stock price down to the average P/E ratio for the industry. If the average P/E ratio is 3, and the P/E ratio on my stock is 5 (current price $10 / earnings per share $2), then I can use the P/E equation to find what the stock price would need to be in order to have a P/E ratio of 3. The equation is: New P/E ratio x Earnings per share. The answer is 3 x $2 or $6. The fair market value for this stock is $6, not $10.

How to Cash Out Your ESOP Stock

Look at your most recent ESOP Individual Benefit Statement and review your current share holding. Consult with your most recent company financial statement to find the share value. Some companies provide a separate statement just for the ESOP, where the fair value of the stock shares is determined by an independent firm.
Once you know what you expect to receive from selling your shares, consult your Summary Plan Description (SPD) and, if available, employee ESOP handbook. These documents will discuss who you need to contact to sell your ESOP shares. If this is not available, contact your company's human resources representative.
With your statement and expected value in hand, call your ESOP representative. This person, who may be in your human resource department or an outside management company, will initiate your sale transaction. Verify that your holding and share value match, or exceed, your most recent statement with the representative.
Your representative will take care of the administrative needs of the sale. You will likely have to sign forms accepting the terms of the sale. Once the transaction is complete, you will receive a check for the value of your sold shares.