How can you tell if a company has the potential to be a good investment? Evaluating a company means taking a close look at what that company makes or sells, how the company is managed, what it earns, the amount it owes, and how it performed during the ups and downs of the last full economic cycle. That information lets you evaluate its profitability, its growth potential, and its valuation.

EPS, ROA, ROE, and ROIC say it all

One revealing statistic about any company is earnings per share (EPS), which is computed by dividing the company’s earnings during a specific period by the number of outstanding shares. Using a per-share calculation rather than the dollar value of the earnings makes it easier to compare the results of companies of different sizes. But, remember that acceptable profit margins vary widely by industry and sector.

Earnings per share (EPS) = Earnings / Outstanding shares

evaluating stocks

Other important measures of profitability are return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and return on invested capital (ROIC). The three also measure the efficiency with which capital is used. If a company’s ROE is higher than its ROA, it may be a sign that it’s using leverage, or debt, to increase profits and profit margins. The details should be included in the Form 10-K that it files with the SEC.

What’s the stock potential?

A pattern of annual percentage increases in sales and earnings is a key indicator of a company’s potential success. Regular growth, especially when it’s the result of new products or marketing strategies, is generally a better signal than a one-time spike resulting from price increases or other market conditions without accompanying growth in sales. Remember, though, that growth potential varies for different-sized companies.

Managed Accounts Inna Rosputnia

Want your money to grow?

See how I can help you to make your money work for you

Managed Investment Accounts – unlock the power of professional asset management. Let me make you money while you enjoy your life.

Stock and Futures Market Research – use my technical and fundamental analysis to pick up swing trades with the best risk/reward ratio.

Send Request

Smaller, newer companies in an expanding industry may grow at a faster rate than larger companies in established industries.

Stock value

You can use various ratios, also called multiples, to measure a company’s valuation, or its stock price in relation to the company’s financial situation. One of the most widely cited multiples is the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), which is computed by dividing the stock’s current price by EPS. P/E is a measure of how much investors are currently willing to pay for each dollar of a company’s earnings.

Price to earnings ratio (P/E) = Current price / EPS

For example, a company with a P/E of 30 has a significantly higher multiple than a company with a P/E of 10. This may mean that investors believe that the company with the higher P/E is a promising investment whose price will continue to climb. But it may also mean that the stock is overvalued, or costs more than future earnings may justify. Similarly, it’s possible that the company with the lower P/E is undervalued, and actually worth more than investors are currently willing to pay for it. But it could also mean that the company has serious problems that investors believe may limit its future success.

Debt overview

A company’s financial health is affected by how much debt it carries. A company that’s taken on substantial debt and is not managing it well may find that its earnings potential is limited by its liabilities. In severe cases, heavy debt may even indicate that the company is veering toward insolvency. One ratio commonly used to gauge financial strength is debt-to-equity, which divides total debt by the company’s market capitalization, or the value of outstanding shares. The higher the resulting percentage, the greater the company’s debt level.

Debt-to-equity ratio = Total debt / Value of outstanding shares

For companies in financial difficulty, another key measure is the current ratio, which compares liquid assets — cash on hand or assets easily converted to cash — to the liabilities due within the year. So how much debt is too much? The answer varies, depending on the type of business, the company’s ability to pay it back, how the debt is being used — to pay off other debts or to invest in new products or acquisitions — and the perspectives of the analysts who study the company.

LOOKING FOR THE LEADERS

Analysts may focus on companies that are leaders in industries with promising futures. In those industries, the companies leading the pack often show distinct, sustainable advantages over their competitors, such as superior products or services, an effective marketing strategy, sound management, and operating efficiency. It’s important to look for weak spots, though, especially if there are up-and-coming competitors.

No company evaluation would be complete without a thorough assessment of the risks it faces. That means asking what needs to happen for a company’s business strategy to succeed; and what could throw that strategy off course. In making this assessment, analysts imagine a variety of scenarios, and then decide which are the most likely. The stock market bubble of the 1990s illustrates the dangers of ignoring warning signs.

Stock research

A stock analyst’s job is to provide guidance on whether to buy a stock, sell it, or wait and see. Sell-side research, which is created for individual investors, is available from two sources. Brokerage firms provide their clients with in-house analysis at least in part to stimulate trading. Independent analysis comes from firms whose primary business is creating and selling research.

When an analyst is unambiguous, he or she advises you to buy, sell, or hold. One complication is that research reports don’t always use the same language. It’s easy to conclude that accumulate means buy. But does underweight mean sell some or sell all shares? Firms that provide consensus information, or a synthesis of what different analysts are saying, generally handle this issue by grouping all the ways to say buy or sell under a single term.

Keep in mind, though, that buy recommendations generally outnumber sell recommendations, even in weak markets. And while many analysts and the firms they work for are widely recognized and highly respected, that’s not always the case. You’ll want to evaluate the evidence used to support an analyst’s conclusions and his or her track record before acting on any recommendation.

Stock Valuation Model, Methods, Formula And Problems by Inna Rosputnia

Wishing you a great week!

Want Your Money To Grow?

Subscribe to get free research, trading lessons, and more insights.

(We do not share your data with anybody, and only use it for its intended purpose)