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Stocks: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Understanding Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share or EPS is one way to compare companies, but it does not tell you about market value.
Understanding Price to Earnings Ratio
The Price to Earnings Ratio is one of the most important numbers analysts look at to understand how the market values a stock.
Understanding Dividend Yield
Dividend Yield tells you what percentage return a company pays out in the form of dividends.
Understanding Bond Prices and Interest Rates
Bond prices move inversely to interest rates, when interest rates go up, bond prices go down and when interest rates go down, bond prices go up.
Trading Basics
How does a stock trade work? What happens after you call your broker? Follow a stock order through the process, both with a floor trader and electronically.
Introduction to Stocks
What are stocks and what to they represent? Ownership is the key word for stockholders and the rights and privileges that go along with it.
Understanding Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stocks
Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stocks react differently in changing business cycles. Knowing the difference between Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stocks can make you a smarter investor.
Understanding Bid & Ask Prices
The stock exchanges use a system of bid and ask pricing to match buyers and sellers. The difference between the two prices is the bid/ask spread.
Tools of Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis relies on several tools to give investors an accurate picture of the financial health of a company and how the market values the stock.
Using and Misusing the Beta Ratio
A stock's beta ratio is a useful tool for measuring risk, but it does have some serious limitations.
Stock Sectors - How to Classify Stocks
Investors break the market down into sectors by company business. These sectors make is possible to compare how a stock is doing relative to its peers.
Investing and Taxes
Taxes on investment gains fall into two categories, long and short term capital gains. Knowing the difference can mean a bigger tax bill if you're not careful.
Bond Basics
Bonds are an important part of every investor's portfolio. They provide safety and stability against the fluctuations of stocks.
Buying High, Selling Low
If you go by price alone, you may end up paying too much for stocks and selling them for too little.
Understanding Stock Orders
Stock orders, such as market orders, limit orders, stop loss orders, and trailing stops, are important for every investor to know.
Understanding Dividend Payout Ratio
The dividend payout ratio looks at what percentage of a company's earnings are paid out to shareholders in the form of dividends.
Top Online Stock Trading Sites
Thirteen of the top online stock trading sites offer investors a wide variety of services including research and advice.
Why Per-Share Price is Not Important
Market cap is more important than per-share price because market cap tells you the value of the company.
Understanding Stock Share Terms
It is important for investors to understand the different terms used to describe shares of stock such as authorized, restricted, treasury, float and outstanding.
Growth, Value Stocks Defined
Growth and value are two ways to define stocks. Each has specific characteristics that can guide you in stock selection.
Understanding the PEG
PEG ratio provides investors a way to calculate how much future earnings growth is going to cost based on the stock's P/E and projected earnings growth rate.
Understanding Book Value
Book value of a company is the assets minus liabilities.
Understanding Stock Splits
Stock splits occur when a company splits its outstanding shares, usually 2 for 1. This reduces the share price and increases the number of outstanding shares.
What Market Indexes Tell Us
Market indexes like the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite, can be useful tools if you understand what they do and do not represent.
Options - Understanding the Basics
Options provide another way to profit from movement in the stock market, but they are not for beginning investors.
Are Stock Buybacks a Good Deal?
Stock buybacks can be a good deal for stockholders or a smokescreen to hide weak financial ratios.
Using Trailing Stops to Protect Stock Profits
Trailing Stops are a form of stop loss orders you can use to protect your profit in a stock.
Where do Investors Turn when Interest Rates Rise?
Where do investors turn in a market of rising interest rates?
Understanding Price to Book Ratio
The Price to Book ratio is a way to determine how the market values the book value of a company based on the current market price.
How Stock Prices Are Set
The interaction between supply and demand is how stock prices are set in the market.
Understanding Stock Quotes
Stock quotes, whether in the newspaper or online, offer a wealth of information if you understand the numbers.
Understanding Price to Sales Ratio
The Price to Sales ratio is a tool for evaluating companies with no earnings that looks at how the market values the company's sales.
Understanding Risk
Risk and reward go hand-in-hand with investing in the stock market. Learn about this relationship and how you can make it work for you.
Three Main Influences on Stock Prices
There are three main influences on a stock's price: business fundamentals, its sector or industry, and market conditions.
Will You Get Any Money Bank When a Company Goes...
Whether stock or bond holders receive any money from bankruptcy proceeds depends on several factors.
Understanding Return on Equity
Return on equity tells investors how efficiently a company is using its assets to generate earnings.
Making Money with Dividends
Dividends are a way companies distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders.
Use these Simple Calculations to Determine...
You can use a few simple calculations to determine how your investments are performing and what they are returning.
Calculating the Real Rate of Return on...
The real rate of return on an investment factors in inflation and taxes to give you a clearer picture of how much your purchasing power has increased.
Strong Dollar or Weak Dollar - Which Is Best?
The value of the U.S. dollar plays an important role in our economy and for stock investors. Which is best, a strong dollar or a weak dollar?
Use all Four Asset Classes to Build your...
There are four classes of assets you can use to build your portfolio - use them all for a sound foundation.
What Stock Investors Should know about Inflation
Inflation has reared its ugly head - what does this mean for your stock investments?
Why Retail Sales Are Important
Retail sales are an important part of our economy and are watched by the market as an important economic indicator.
Understanding Stop Loss Orders
Stop Loss Orders can protect you when your favorite stock gets hit by a disaster by cutting your losses with an automatic sell.
Bonds and Taxes
Bonds generate income that is taxed, however if you choose wisely you can avoid most of the tax burden and earn a nice return.
What is Investing?
What is investing and how does it differ from saving? Investing is the proactive use of your money to make more money.
Beware the Dividend Yield Trap
Stocks with high dividend yields may be a smart buy, but they may also be a trap. Always check the other fundamentals before making an investment decision.
Cash Flow is Better than P/E
Cash is vital to a company's health and its ability to generate cash can be used to see if the market under or over-values the stock. For many, these metrics are better than P/E for that purpose.
When is the Best Time to Sell a Stock?
Sometimes it is as hard to know when to sell a stock as it is to know the right time to buy. This is the second of a two-part series on selling stocks.
P/E is most Important Stock Valuation Tool
A stock's P/E is a key valuation measurement investors use to determine how much to pay for a stock.
Stock Prices
Who sets stock prices? How are prices set each day? How do you know what a stock will open at each day? Understanding how stocks are priced in the market will make you a better investor.
Check on Institutional Ownership Before Buying...
The actions of the institutional owners of a stock can tell you something about the quality of the stock - sometimes you can believe it.
Weak U.S. Dollar May Mean Higher Interest Rates
The U.S. dollar is near all-time record lows against major foreign currencies - what does this mean for investors and consumers?
The Basics of Trading Stocks
Trading stocks begins with a basic understanding of what the stock market is like and how all the pieces fit together.
How to Spot Stock Market Trends
The stock market is driven by obvious forces of supply and demand. You can watch those forces drive the market and see which where the market is headed.
Part One: The Stock Market Doesn't Care About You
Despite the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, there are at least five good reasons to invest in stocks.
Major Types of Risk for Stock Investors
Understanding the risks of stock investing and how to guard against them can help you meet your financial goals.
Types of Stocks
There are several ways to describe stocks, but two basic methods cover most situations: potential and size.
When to Sell a Stock
Knowing when to sell stocks is sometimes as difficult a knowing when to buy. This is the first part of a two-part series.
Look into the Future with Stock Market Indexes
Stock market index futures give you a clue about what traders think the market is going to do the next session.
Opening an Account
What types a accounts are available? How do you open an account?
Stock Screening Basics
There are many research tools available to investors, but the one you should master first is the stock screener. Get your feet wet with this one from MSN.com.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings Per Share is calculated by dividing a company's net earnings by the outstanding shares.
How to Deal with Losses in the Stock Market
There are several different types of losses you can suffer when investing in stocks - some less obvious than others.
Understanding IPOs
IPOs or initial public offerings are how companies offer stock for sale to the public the first time. Often the subject of wild speculation and excitement, IPOs can be a very profitable buy or a disaster.
Understanding Zero Coupon Bonds
Zero coupon bonds are sold at a deep discount and redeemed at full face value.
Should You Buy Gold?
Gold is an historic haven in times of economic stress, but you should use caution before buying the precious metal.
Cash Flow to Debt Ratio Helps Spot Trouble
Cash flow to debt ratio is helpful in determining the financial strength (or weakness) of a company.
Short Selling Stocks- Not for the Faint Hearted
Selling short involves selling stock you don't own that you believe is about to drop in price. If you are right, there are good profits, however, your loses can be staggering if wrong.
Understanding Stock Diversification
There two forms of diversification you should know to make your portfolio less volatile.
How to Calculate Risk Premium
Risk and reward. They are two sides of the same coin – at least that’s the way it’s supposed to work
Treasury Bond Yield Curve – What Does...
The U.S. Treasury bond yield curve is an important stock market indicator.
Do You Need a Financial Adviser?
Financial advisers can map a blue print that will get you from where you are to your financial goals.
What Is the Fed and What Does It Do?
The Fed is the single most important federal agency for stock market investors because its actions directly affect the markets.
Uncertainty Makes the Stock Market Crazy
Major economic and political factors shape the stock market, but most of all the stock market hates uncertainty.
What Happens to Stock When Company Files...
What happens to your stock or bonds when a company goes bankrupt?
How Bonds and Interest Rates Are Related
Bonds respond to changes in interest rates, however this only comes into play if you buy or sell previously issued bonds.
Consider REITs for High Income
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are a special form of security that allows individuals to invest in large commercial real estate projects with the ease of buying stock.
Calculating Compound Annual Growth Rates of...
The Annual Compound Growth Rate of your investments is important because it takes into account the time value of money as well as price changes.
The Benefits of Long Term Investing
Investing for the long term will let you ride out the unavoidable ups and downs of the market. Research shows you are better off staying in the market for the long term rather than jumping in and out.
A Bond Ladder to Success
A bond ladder solves the problem of interest rate risk for bond investors.
Buying Mutual Funds Is Different Than Buying...
Buying and selling mutual funds is different than buying stocks. For one thing, there is usually no broker involved.
Should You Own Stocks or Mutual Funds?
Should you own individual stocks or mutual funds? Which investment is better for you? For many investors, the answer is both and this article gives some reasons why.
Who's Watching Your Back in Stock Market?
The stock market and securities industry is highly regulated. Several layers of regulatory oversight are designed to protect the individual investor.
Margin Trading - Not for Beginners
Margin trading is a way to magnify your buying power by borrowing money from your broker for up to 50% of a stock purchase.
Use Cash Flow to Evaluate Stocks
Cash flow is an important tool for investors in evaluating stocks for investment.
Don't be a Victim of Investing Scams
Investment scams come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common - very high rates of return.
Using Relative Strength in Stock Selection
Relative strength measures a stock's performance against the rest of the market and is helpful in evaluating investments.
Trading Stock Options Adds New Dimension
Trading stock options is not for beginners, but it can enhance your investing.
Is a Stock Cheap or Expensive?
The sales/price ratio provides a metric for measuring the relative value of a stock's price when compared to industry peers. It is used along with price/earnings ratio.
Convertible Bonds - A Good Investment?
Convertible bonds appear to offer the best of both stocks and bonds, but complex factors make them hard to judge.
Market Specialists Make NYSE Work
The New York Stock Exchange sets prices of stocks by auction with the best price to buy and best price to sell always available.
What Are Stock Warrants?
Stock warrants give the holder the right to buy shares of a stock at a fixed price during a fixed period. They are very similar to stock options.
It's the Earnings
Earnings are the single most important factor in stock evaluation for many investors. Although there are other factors to consider, earnings must be near or at the top of every investor's list of important checkpoints.
Finding Good Stocks to Buy
One way to measure how well a company is doing involves comparing its financial ratios to peers and industry sector.
Understanding Bond Types
You can purchase bonds from a variety of sources including the U.S. Treasury, municipalities and corporations. Each has unique characteristics and features.
When and How to Sell a Winning Stock
Knowing when and how to sell a winning stock is as important as knowing when to sell a losing stock.
Bonds Information Center
Bonds should be a part of every investor's portfolio. But what are bonds and how should you use them? This series of articles will help you understand these important investments.
Shifting from Stocks to Bonds May Be Risky
Investors often move out of a risky stock market into the bond market, but this strategy has risks also.
Long-Term Investing in Stocks Begins with Goal
A long-term approach to investing has goals and a strategy.
Understanding Value Investing
Value investing is about finding stocks overlooked by the market, but that are fundamentally sound with good growth prospects.
Buying Winning Stocks
It makes good sense to look at the list of stocks closing at their 52-week high for investing ideas.
Four Investment Objectives Define Strategy
Four main investment objectives define how you choose financial products for your portfolio.
Preferred Shares of Stock Not so Much
Preferred stock has some unique features, however don't let the name fool you, these shares leave much to be desired.
Using Limit Orders When Buying or Selling Stocks
You should use some form of limit orders when buying or selling stock. These will give you some control over the price you pay or receive when the order is executed.
Should You Own Foreign Stocks?
Foreign stocks represent an investing opportunity outside the U.S. economy, but you can buy them on our markets through ADRs.
The Stock Market Indicator You Never Heard Of
You can make better investment decisions if you know (or have a strong indication) when prices will reverse direction. The TRIN Index provides this information.
The Stock Market's Risk Premium
The stock market premium tells you how much over the return of a risk-free investment you should expect from stocks.
The Difference Between a Stock's Value and Price
A stocks's value may not be the same as its price. One is a better measure for investors and the other for traders.
Should You Care about Bull or Bear Markets?
The difference between the intelligent investor and the person who invests on a whim is what happens when the markets shake their stock.
The Importance of a Stock's Share Price
Daily changes in the price of a stock are often of little concern to the long-term investor, but there are times when the daily price does matter.
Interest Rates and Stock Prices
The stock market closely watches interest rates for signs of change. Lower rates mean more money in the economy.
Betas Aid in Stock Trading - But which Beta do...
Betas tell you a lot about a stock's volatility, however checking multiple web sites you may find different answers to that question.
Introduction to Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is the process of spreading your investment across different asset classes and diversifying them within classes. Asset allocation is key to investment success and meeting your financial goals.
The Dangers of Market Timing
Market timing is a strategy that attempts to predict future market movements using fundamental and technical analysis.
Why Free Cash Flow Is so Important
Free cash flow is one of the most important numbers you need to know about a stock. It will help you determine a fair price for the company's stock.
Size Matters in Investing
A company's size is an important investment consideration. The smaller the company, the more volatile and risky the investment.
Stock Screening Tools You May Want to Consider
Stock screens are helpful in selecting investment candidates. Here is a list of stock screens.
The Stock Market Is Not the Economy
The stock market is not the economy, but to hear some tell the news, they are the same.
Are You a Trader or an Investor?
Are you buying a stock or investing in a company. There's a difference and it's important that you don't confuse the two.
How to Legally Manipulate Stock Prices
Institutional investors can manipulate stock prices with their large buying power.
Investing in and for Retirement
How you fund and maintain your retirement plan is one of the most important investing in the stock market decisions you'll make.
How to Use Zero Coupon Bonds
You can use zero coupon bonds to reach a variety of financial goals, but watch out for the tax consequences.
TICK Is an Important Market Sentiment Tool
The TICK Index is a simple calculation that gives you a quick look at whether the mood of the market is to buy or to sell.
ROA is a Leading Measure of Company's Efficiency
Return on Assets is an important number for investors to know when considering a stock. It provides a measure of efficiency.
Investing in Stocks Information Center
Investing in stocks begins with a basic understanding of what stocks are, where they are traded and some fundamental rules.
I Bonds: Inflation Protection & Safety
I Bonds offer protection from inflation and the safety of the U.S. Treasury in addition to tax exemption from state and local taxes.
Consumer Price Index
The Consumer Price Index is the leading indicator of inflation and one of the most important indicators for investors. A rising CPI may signal rising inflation and trigger interest rate increases.
Five Reasons Women Should Invest in Stocks
There is nothing about investing in stocks that is unique to one gender. Women can succeed as well as men.
Can the Stock Market Crash Again?
The stock market crash of 1929 erased 90% of the market's value. Can another crash like that happen again?
What Are the Main Types of Corporate Bankruptcy?
What are the main types of corporate bankruptcy?
Three Steps to Better Stock Investing
These three steps will help you get a better start in stock investing.
What is the Difference Between Class A Stock...
Companies sometimes issue two classes of stock - one for the public and another for the founders.
Understanding What Affects Stock Prices
Investors are buying future growth when they invest in stocks.
Price Earnings Ratio
Price Earnings Ratio is a way to show how a company’s earnings relate to the stock price. The P/E is calculated by dividing the current price of the stock by the annual earnings per share.
Stock Buyback can Benefit Shareholders
A company repurchases its stock for a variety of reasons, not all of them are good. However, a stock buyback can benefit stockholders by increasing the worth of their shares.
Short-Interest Ratio can Help you Evaluate Stocks
The short-interest ratio tells you whether your stock is an active target of short sellers
Five Things Women Need to Know about Investing...
Women beginning investing in stocks need to accept five concepts to become successful investors.
Protecting Your Profits in Stock Investing
One of the hardest decisions stock investors make is deciding when to sell.
Time to Re-Think Role of Stocks in Retirement
Conventional wisdom was to lower your percentage of stocks and increase bonds as you approached retirement. With people living longer and the possibility of inflation, that may not be the best strategy.
Naked Short Selling - Don't Try this at Home
Naked short selling is a risky trading strategy that profits when a stock's share price falls. Leverage creates the opportunities for big gains and the risk of big losses.
Understanding the CPI
The Consumer Price Index is the most important economic indicator a stock investor should follow.
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
Employee Stock Purchase Plans can be a great benefit, but be careful that you don't fall into the Enron trap.
Taking a Look into the Future of Market Indexes
Market index futures give you a clue about what traders think the market is going to do the next session.
Cash Ratio Good Measure of Liquidity
The cash ratio tells you how easily a company can weather a difficult economy.
Use Insiders' Stock Trades as Guide
Watch the trading of company insiders for clues about where they believe the stock's price is headed.
Market Makers Keep Nasdaq Humming
Market makers in the Nasdaq are responsible for creating and maintaining a market for securities listed on the exchange.
Stock Market's PE Helpful Gauge
The stock market's PE is helpful in understanding the significance of major declines and advances.
Use P/E Wisely When Considering Stock Purchase
A stock's P/E is one of the most important tools investors use. Use it wisely.
What do Value Investors Look for in Stocks?
Value investors look for companies trading below their intrinsic value.

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