Equity
Equity is what belongs to the shareholders: contributions, reserves and retained earnings, minus losses. It is the cushion that absorbs losses before creditors do.
Formula
The codes are those of the National Bank of Belgium's annual-accounts formats; they are the ones Idonis uses for every company profile.
How to read it
Equity that grows year after year shows the company keeps part of its profits.
Negative equity means accumulated losses exceed contributions and reserves: assets no longer cover debts. The Belgian Code of Companies and Associations then requires the board to follow the alarm-bell procedure.
Since 2019 the Belgian private limited company (BV/SRL) has no minimum capital: the amount of equity says more than the initial capital.
Capital gains tax (2026): the reference value of unlisted shares at 31/12/2025 can be computed as equity + 4 × EBITDA — an EBITDA defined by law, not exactly this one. Calculate the value of your shares →
Equity: medians of the main Belgian sectors
Computed by IdonisFor financial year 2024, in the sectors with the most companies: a quarter of companies below the 1st quartile, half below the median, three quarters below the 3rd quartile.
| Sector | 1st quartile | Median | 3rd quartile | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities of head offices and management consultancy | 32,268 € | 118,266 € | 382,287 € | 50,574 |
| Real estate activities | 20,960 € | 167,226 € | 658,182 € | 49,649 |
| Specialised construction activities | 24,834 € | 76,581 € | 213,390 € | 47,004 |
| Retail trade | 10,582 € | 80,228 € | 292,421 € | 43,008 |
| Human health activities | 43,827 € | 140,272 € | 380,983 € | 40,097 |
| Wholesale trade | 23,850 € | 163,430 € | 700,234 € | 34,897 |
| Computer programming, consultancy and related activities | 27,076 € | 83,969 € | 206,680 € | 25,958 |
| Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding | 72,175 € | 342,674 € | €1.72m | 25,322 |
| Food and beverage service activities | −1,701 € | 34,325 € | 112,148 € | 24,274 |
| Legal and accounting activities | 39,307 € | 122,900 € | 352,111 € | 20,767 |
Medians computed by Idonis from annual accounts filed with the National Bank, all sizes combined. The same panel is the sector benchmark on every company page. Belgian companies by sector →
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a Belgian company's equity?
In its annual accounts filed with the National Bank, under code 10/15 of liabilities. The Idonis company profile shows it for the latest year.
What does negative equity mean?
That accumulated losses exceed contributions and reserves: debts are larger than assets. It is not bankruptcy, but it obliges the board to deliberate on the company's continuity (alarm-bell procedure).
Are equity and share capital the same?
No. Capital (or contributions) is only one part of equity, which also includes reserves and retained results.