Our ability to identify patterns provides us with a sense of order and clarity, in situations where we can’t find a pattern things appear chaotic, probably even intimidating.
Over the past few weeks, I have been posting theories about business analysis and how they influence investment decisions. Each post provided a suggested step for investment analysis; for today’s post, I will unite them all on this page. This is a 4-step compilation on how to select a business to invest in.
Estimate Growth and Returns
Find out what the business is worth
Scrutinize the business using financial ratios
Scrutinize the business using non-financial factors
1. Estimate Growth and Returns
Growth and returns are two of the most commonly used terms when talking about investment and in many cases, they are used interchangeably. With these estimates, you can proceed to estimate what a business is worth below. Additionally, you can use these estimates to compare two or more companies to see which provides the best benefits for your investment.
Your next course of action is to ensure you are getting the best possible deal for the slice of the business you are about to purchase. Like any other market, the stock market is influenced by demand and supply which means it’s assets can be overpriced or underpriced.
Following the steps above, it is important to acknowledge that these are just estimates and it would be nice to back them up with some sort of reassurance, so you can be more confident in your decision. Conducting further analysis by using financial ratios helps to provide that reassurance. You will scrutinize the company’s existence and stability, as well as its ability to consistently generate profits. With these answers, you may then review your chances of getting the benefits you crave.
4. Scrutinize the business using non-financial factors
A business is not just numbers; it can be influenced by customers, government, competitors, management, shareholders etc. Therefore to fully understand the strengths/weaknesses of a business you should understand how the business interacts with its people and how successful they are in each relationship.
With these four steps combined, you are now equipped with enough knowledge to decide on buying/selling/holding and investment
Disclaimer:
The information on this page and anywhere else on this website are investment theories, not individual investment advice, therefore their application or otherwise is up to your discretion.
As of June 2022, the NYSE had a combined total of 2,584 listed domestic and international companies, so when someone tells you to invest in the stock market, where to begin, which industry, which companies or what shares? These are just a few of the questions that would begin to float through your mind.
Where to begin?
There are different theories on how to choose your first share investment but one thing almost everyone agrees on is that you should choose an industry you like and a business you love. As a shareholder who is also a customer/enthusiast, you’ll find it easier to read up on the company’s information, effectively equipping yourself with the ability to make a decision either to sell/buy/hold your investments.
Summary: Go for businesses you like and whose products you already. Also, your investment portfolio can include as many industries as you want. In fact investing in multiple industries is a reliable way to manage your portfolio risks.
Incorporating Rational Analysis
After identifying your favourite companies, next you want to find out as fast as possible if the business is doing as well as you would think. In other words, you want to back up your favourite choice with an objective analysis without spending too much time on research.
This is where financial ratios and financial reports come in.
Listed companies are mandated to issue reports on their performance to the public, you can use information from these reports to conduct a quick analysis of the company.
Over the years financial ratios have been developed to help investors interpret the numbers in a company’s account reports. Financial ratios are grouped into:
Profitability ratios
Liquidity ratios
Efficiency/activity ratios
Long-term solvency/Leverage ratios
Investment ratios
Profitability ratios
These ratios are used to assess the level of profitability of a business entity in relation to the revenue generated and the capital invested. Examples include:
Return on capital employed (ROCE)
Return on equity (ROE)
Gross profit margin
Net profit margin
Liquidity/Financial strength ratios
These are ratios that measure the ability of a business entity to meet its short-term obligation, that is pay its day-to-day debts as they fall due by using assets that can be quickly converted to cash.
These assets are normally referred to as liquid assets and they are shown in the statement of financial position as current assets. They are also referred to as working capital.
The ability of the company to utilize its long-term resources in its day-to-day operations depends on the adequacy of its working capital. The difference between these current assets and the company’s short-term obligations, current liabilities, is known as net working capital.
Examples include:
Current ratio
Quick assets ratio
Absolute liquid ratio
Net operating cycle
Number of inventory days
Number of receivable days
Number of payable days
Efficiency/ Activity ratios
These ratios measure how efficiently the business entity has been utilizing its assets.
How much inventory, accounts receivable, or fixed asset investment does it take to support a given volume of business? Are these assets being managed effectively with proper controls?
Examples include
Total asset turnover
Net assets turnover
Trade receivables turnover
Inventory turnover
Long-term Solvency/Leverage Ratios
These are ratios that show the capital structure of a business entity. They show the mixture of the business capital between equity (proprietary capital) and debts (long-term liabilities). They provide information on the degree of a company’s fixed financing obligations and its ability to satisfy these financial obligations.
Examples include
Capital gearing
Debt to Equity ratio
Interest cover
Investment Ratios/Valuation ratios
These are ratios that are of interest to investors and potential investors. They show the level of returns that an investor can expect from investing in the business entity. They are also referred to as shareholder ratios.
With valuation ratios, the stock price enters the picture. Valuation ratios, as the name implies, relate a company’s stock price to its performance. The ubiquitous price to earnings (P/E) ratio shows up here, as does its sibling’s price to sales (P/S), price to book (P/B), and a few others.
The figures you need for your ratio analysis are found in the company’s financial statements (specifically the income statement and statement of financial position) which are part of a company’s annual report.
You can find a company’s annual reports on yahoo finance or do a quick google search with the company’s name, the year you require plus annual reports.
Where can you find computed ratios online?
It’s true that anybody with a company’s annual reports and a calculator can calculate a company’s ratios, however, I must admit that ratio analysis can be cumbersome and time-consuming, particularly when you’re looking at a group of companies or industries. So where can you find services that do the work for you for free?
These are just the few that I use there are many others out there. If you know more kindly comment below!!!
What Do you look for When analyzing ratios?
Consistency
Trends
Intrinsic meaning
Competitive Comparisons
Consistency
The hallmark of good management, as well as of an attractive long-term investment, is the consistency of results delivered. If profit margins are consistent and changing at a consistent rate, the company is predictable — and most likely in control of its markets. Inconsistent ratios reflect inconsistent management, competitive struggles, and cyclical industries, all of which diminish a company’s intrinsic value.
Trends
Better than consistency alone is consistency with a favourable trend. Growing profit margins, return on equity, asset utilization, and financial strength are all very desirable, particularly if valuation ratios (P/E and so on) haven’t kept pace. Value investors who study trends carefully have information that most investors don’t have.
Comparisons
For many analysts, and especially credit analysts, who are trying to get a picture of a company’s health, a comparative analysis is the most important use of ratios. A ratio acquires more meaning when it’s compared to direct competitors, the company’s industry, or much broader standards, like the S&P 500.
A profitability measure, such as gross profit margin, reported at 25 percent tells more when direct competitors are at 35 percent plus.
Note:Beware of differences within industries when comparing companies. A company mostly in the health insurance business may be difficult to compare to a company that sells mostly life insurance. While the resulting ratio differences may in part be valid, they also may lead you to believe that an apple is bad when it really isn’t. It’s important to compare apples to apples when comparing different companies.
Intrinsic Meaning
What does the ratio tell you?
If the debt-to-equity ratio is 3 to 1, then the company has a lot of debt.
If the inventory-to-sales ratio is greater than 1, then the company turns its inventory less than once per year.
A P/E ratio of 50 implies a 2 percent return on invested capital ($1 returned per $50 invested).
These numbers tell you something without looking at any comparisons or trends. Want an early test for determining whether a ratio is good, bad, or ugly? Just think of the company’s ratio as it would apply to your personal finances.
A household with 3 times as much debt as equity is in dire straits, as is a household that turns over inventory (say, groceries) only once a year, as is a household that achieves only a 2 percent return on its investments, or a household that’s owed a third of its annual income. You can’t apply this test to all ratios, but where common sense tells you something, use it!
Now you know
Now you know the importance of financial ratios, and where to find them in minutes!! and what to do with them.
Did you enjoy this article? Do you have any questions or corrections feel free to comment below!!! I love to hear from you.
Analyzing the performance of a company is one of the considerations you make before you decide to invest in them. Next, you have to find out if they are priced correctly, a high-performing company with overpriced shares is not exactly a good investment. Find out more in my next post.
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