Fundamental Analysis Articles

Learn why natural gas is playing a larger role in the energy industry.

Discover the methods behind financial forecasts and the risks inherent when we seek to predict the future.

Enron is a classic example of greed gone wrong and how investors were led astray.

These unofficial forecasts hold the potential for insider insight - and investment risk.

One of the most powerful companies in the entertainment sector has some lessons to share for new budding entrepreneurs.

Determining the value of a preferred stock is important for your portfolio. Learn how it's done.

There is academic evidence supporting different market views. Learn how and why the market can be predicted.

Emerging markets like India are fast becoming engines for future growth. Find out how to get in on the ground floor.

To understand the qualities that make for a great company, investors must dig deep into "soft" metrics.

Of the hundreds of exchange-traded funds on the market, some are bound to fail. Learn how to pick the best of the bunch.

Learn how to use revenue and expenses, among other factors, to break down and analyze a company.

What people buy and where they shop can provide valuable information about the economy.

A look at the five varieties of EPS and what each represents can help an investor determine whether a company is a good value, or not.

Financial statements don't tell you everything about a company's health. Investigate the management behind the numbers!

Cash flow analysis is a critical process for both companies and investors. Find out what you need to know about it.

Investors use these four measures to determine a stock's worth. Find out how to use them.

Find out how to tell if a company is manipulating its financial data, so you don't invest in the next Enron.

We look at how the market signals impending economic cycles and sector performance during each stage.

Find out how commodity, bond, stock and currency markets interact.

Relying on price-to-book can get ugly if a company has repurchased stock. Learn why.

Check out the six main parts of this indispensible business asset.

The new financial accounting standard known as FAS 123R could take a bite out of your portfolio. Find out why here.

As nations like China, India and others continue to grow, valuing companies from these nations will be important for your portfolio.

We look at three widely used valuation methods and figure out how companies justify spending.

Learn the underlying basics behind the residual income model and how it can be used to place an absolute value on a firm.

Understanding these investments is key to determining the value and future prospects of any business.

Find out how to calculate important ratios and compare them to market value.

Take a deeper look at a company's profitability with the help of profit margin ratios.

Dirty surplus items can skew net income. Knowing how to account for them will give you a cleaner picture.

These quick-and-dirty ratios will help you find the most undervalued stocks on the market.

REITs are much like dividend-paying companies, but analyzing them requires consideration of the accounting treatment of property.

Probability trends and profitability analysis are clearer when using this framework.

Go beyond the name and find out if that fund fits into your portfolio.

Investors need to be aware of the existence of dilutive securities and how they can affect existing shareholders.

Make sure you know what your real estate investment is worth before you sign the ownership papers.

We provide an overview of the types of AIS jobs available, and the education and training requirements to enter this field.

These indicators give investors and experts some data to work with, but they're far from perfect measures.

This ever-changing industry can leave investors scratching their heads. Find out which metrics matter.

Learn the differences between these closely related disciplines and how they inform and influence each other.

When trying to evaluate a company, it always comes down to determining the value of the free cash flows and discounting them to today.

Learn to decipher the secret language of the prospectus - it can tell you a lot about a company's future.

Investors can find profitable companies - even in a recession. It's all about knowing where to look.

Find out the difference between these two Wall Street jobs.

You may be familiar with publicly-traded companies, but how much do you know about privately-held firms?

When it comes to a company's size, bigger isn't always better for investors. Find out more here.

If these calculations are off, it could drastically change the value of the shares.

Learn the technique that Buffett, Lynch and other pros used to make their fortunes.

These five qualitative measures allow investors to draw conclusions about a corporation that are not apparent on the balance sheet.

The DDM is one of the most foundational of financial theories, but it's only as good as its assumptions.

Be careful around companies with high cash burn rates. These investments can turn to ashes.

These companies claim that they can reduce or even eliminate what you owe to the IRS. Find out the facts behind this alluring fiction.

Investing in the biotech sector can involve both huge losses and major gains.

Find out how your profits are taxed and what to consider when making investment decisions.

Companies make choices and assumptions in calculating depreciation, and you need to know how these affect the bottom line.

The required rate of return is used by investors and corporations to evaluate investments. Find out how to calculate it.

Determining creditworthiness of smaller and medium-sized corporations isn't as easy as for larger companies, but these tips can help.

Some companies excel at announcing news that is bad for shareholders, but spinning it as good news.

Find out what information you need to pull together before filling out your return.

This method of valuing a company can make it look like a bargain when it is not.

Learn what this phrase means and how to spot it in a company's financial statements.

Learn how to combine average true range, simple moving average and Bollinger band indicators to gauge market volatility.

While the price-to-earnings ratio is commonly used for assessing stock prices, the price/earnings-to-growth ratio offers forecasting advantages that investors need to know.

Learn why LACFY is a valuable metric for investors looking to make quick valuation calls on a company's stock relative to it's free cash flow history.

Reports from the Securities and Exchange Commission provide investors with an edge in determining the investment value of companies. Learn what to look for in these financial reports.

In theory, a low P/B ratio means you have a cushion against poor performance. In practice, it is much less certain.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect investment strategy that will guarantee success, but you can find the indicators and strategies that will work best for your position.

Return on equity is a widely used ratio, but return on net operating assets (RNOA) takes things one step farther.

Save yourself money by lowering the amount of tax you owe.

Investors need to know how to detect signs of looming bankruptcy. The Z-score can help.

Return on invested capital is a great way to measure the true value produced by a company. Learn to use the ROIC metric and increase your chances of finding successful investments.

Self-employed advisors are prone to a number of unique expenses, but the tax benefits can often balance out the financial burdens.

Don't let this valuable piece of mail end up in your trash can. Here are five things you need to know.

Relationships between currencies and commodities exist throughout the financial markets. Find out how to trade these trends.

The P/E ratio is a simple tool for evaluating a company, but no one ratio can tell the whole story.

Learn strategies for investing in this price-weighted index and how to interpret its movements.

Take a look at how this effective ratio can be influenced by certain critical factors.

Reading between the lines to decipher a company's true financial condition is the key to understanding earnings reports.

Investing has ways to successfully accommodate a variety of personalities. Learn how to align your trading with your traits.

Some insider trading is actually legal - and can be extremely telling for investors.

Clear and honest financial statements not only reflect value, they also help ensure it.

Discover the key elements of a good long-term investment and how to find them.

Companies can manipulate their numbers, so you need to learn how to determine the accuracy of EPS.

In investment, knowledge is power. Knowing these signs could alert you to potential problems on the horizon for your stocks.

Observing a company's behavior can prove beneficial for the mindful investor. Know the signs before you make a reactionary move.

Find out what most investors are doing wrong, and how you can do it right.

Differences between accrual accounting and cash flows show why net income is easier to manipulate.

When a company is headed for trouble, the warning signs are usually there. Learn how to spot disaster.

Learn how to set each type of stop and limit when trading currencies.

When scandal hits a company, there are few key factors that determine how hard the stock will be hit.

A persuasive resume can give you the edge you need in a competitive market.

The P/B ratio can be an easy way to determine a company's value, but it isn't magic!

Find out what reports to watch in order to anticipate and react to market movements.

This measure can help investors spot potential trouble in a bank's financials. Find out how.

Cash is something companies love to have. But if they are not using it there could be problems.

Learn the important ratios and terms that you'll need to know to get involved in this trading sector.

If you believe the market smiles on those who focus on value, growth or income, this vehicle may be for you.

If these numbers have you in the dark, these easy calculations should help light the way.