Investing Basics



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Basics of Investing Articles

Analysis of Company Profit Margin (Gross, Operating & Net Profit Margin)

Corporations and their shareholders are determined to make profits from their business operations and make a good return on their investment (ROI). In order to make good profits, a firm needs to be run efficiently and have sufficient cash flow to meet current liabilities and short term debt (liquidity). You as a small scale investor need to investigate the profitability of a company in order to determine if it is both liquid and it is being run efficiently. The way to do this is by calculating the various profit margin ratios available. We look at a few below:


Investigating the Balance Sheet of a Company

One of the ways of determining if a particular stock is strong is by looking at that company's Balance Sheet. The balance sheet will illustrate what the company owns (current & long term assets), what it owes (short & long term debt) and its position of financial liquidity. You wouldn't want to invest in a company that has trouble paying its short term bills now would you? In this article, we will look at 3 of the common accounting ratios that help determine the financial position of a company. (View Full Article)


Basics of Options (Derivatives) in Investment Portfolios

An Option is a contractual right given to an individual allowing him to buy or sell an underlying asset (common stock, derivatives, etc) at a specific price on or before a certain date. Options are similar to stocks and bonds in that they are all securities that have strict defined terms and characteristics.

Take a real life example. Imagine you want to purchase this piece of jewellery for $50,000 but you do not have the cash upfront. However, 6 months later, you will have enough cash to afford the jewellery. So you make a deal with the owner, giving you the option of purchasing this piece of jewellery for $50,000 in exactly 6 months from now. However, to give you the right or this "Option", the owner charges you $2500. From here, you stand to either gain from the transaction or lose from it. (View Full Article)


Calculation of Stock Beta - Stock Price and Market Risk (Volatility)

Stock Beta is a calculation or measurement of volatility or risk of a stock trading on the stock market. It is the fluctuation in stock prices and the market in general. Some stocks have greater risk than others, and thus carry higher Stock Betas. Stock betas are measured using regression analysis.

  • A Beta of 1 shows the stock is moving in proportion with the market in general.
  • A Beta Greater than 1 shows the stock is more volatile than the market in general (examples include many high-tech stocks).
  • A Beta Less than 1 shows the stock is less volatile than the market in general (examples include many utility company stocks). (View Full Article)

 
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