This page explains option intrinsic value, how it relates to intrinsic value of other assets, and how to calculate it for call and put options.
Intrinsic value in finance
Intrinsic value is a term frequently used for options and stocks, but it can be applied to any asset. As a financial term, intrinsic value of a security or asset describes the value that is contained in the asset itself. Intrinsic value is often referred to as fundamental value or fair value.
In general, intrinsic value of an asset is calculated by adding up all future income that is expected to be gained from the asset. All future cash flows must be discounted to the present value.
Intrinsic value is a different term from market value. Market value (or market price) is how much people are willing to pay for an asset and it is derived by the interaction of supply and demand (it does not necessarily equal the value contained in the asset).
Intrinsic value of companies and stocks
Intrinsic value (or fundamental value or fair value) of a company is usually calculated by summing up all future cash flows to its owners (typically dividends). All cash flows must be discounted to the present value using the required rate of return.
Intrinsic value of a stock is calculated by dividing intrinsic value of the company by the number of shares.
For complex assets like companies (or their shares of stock) different people may have different opinions regarding how much the intrinsic value is. There may be multiple different methods of calculating intrinsic value of an asset, all leading to different results. The tricky part of intrinsic value calculation is estimating the parameters. After all, who knows what the dividend will be in 5 years?
Option intrinsic value
For options, intrinsic value is the value by which an option is in the money. In other words, it is the value you would gain if you exercise the option immediately (for American options).
Intrinsic value is one of the two components of an option's total value or premium (the other component is time value).
Calculating intrinsic value of calls and puts
Intrinsic value is the difference between an option's strike price and the market price of the underlying security.
Call option intrinsic value
For call options, intrinsic value is calculated by subtracting the option's strike price from the market price of the underlying asset. If the result is negative (when underlying price is below strike price and the option is out of the money), intrinsic value is zero. So the call intrinsic value formula is:
Call intrinsic value = MAX ( underlying price - strike, 0)
For more detailed explanation and examples see Strike Price and Intrinsic Value of Call Options.
Put option intrinsic value
For put options, intrinsic value is calculated as strike price minus underlying price (the opposite of call option intrinsic value). If the result is negative, intrinsic value is zero.
Put intrinsic value = MAX ( strike - underlying price, 0)
See Strike Price and Intrinsic Value of Put Options.
Intrinsic value outside finance
The meaning of intrinsic value in numismatics:
The value of the metal (e.g. gold or silver) in a coin, irrespective of the coin‘s market price or value for collectors (the logic is the same as option's intrinsic value as opposed to option's market price).
The meaning of intrinsic value in ethics (extract from Wikipedia article Intrinsic value (ethics):