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Stocks: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Understanding Earnings Per Sha
Earnings per share or EPS is one way to compare companies, but it does not tell you about market value.
What is the P/E?
The Price to Earnings Ratio is one of the most important numbers analysts look at to understand how the market values a stock.
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.
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.
Understanding Dividend Yield
Dividend Yield tells you what percentage return a company pays out in the form of dividends.
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.
Online Stock Trading Sites
Thirteen of the top online stock trading sites offer investors a wide variety of services including research and advice.
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.
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.
The Beta Ratio
A stock's beta ratio is a useful tool for measuring risk, but it does have some serious limitations.
Understanding Stock Orders
Stock orders, such as market orders, limit orders, stop loss orders, and trailing stops, are important for every investor to know.
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.
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.
Buying on Price
If you go by price alone, you may end up paying too much for stocks and selling them for too little.
Stock Sectors
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.
Price to Book
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.
Understanding Book Value
Book value of a company is the assets minus liabilities.
Market Indexes
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.
Understanding 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.
Supply and Demand
The interaction between supply and demand is how stock prices are set in the market.
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.
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.
Making Money with Dividends
Dividends are a way companies distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders.
Bond Basics
Bonds are an important part of every investor's portfolio. They provide safety and stability against the fluctuations of stocks.
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.
Protecting Profits
Trailing Stops are a form of stop loss orders you can use to protect your profit in a stock.
Growth, Value Stocks
Growth and value are two ways to define stocks. Each has specific characteristics that can guide you in stock selection.
Stock Quotes
Stock quotes, whether in the newspaper or online, offer a wealth of information if you understand the numbers.
Why Per-Share Price is Not Imp
Market cap is more important than per-share price because market cap tells you the value of the company.
Understanding Return on Equity
Return on equity tells investors how efficiently a company is using its assets to generate earnings.
Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stoc
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 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.
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.
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.
Basic Options
Options provide another way to profit from movement in the stock market, but they are not for beginning investors.
Cash Flow
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.
Earnings Per Share
Earnings Per Share is calculated by dividing a company's net earnings by the outstanding shares.
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.
Opening an Account
What types a accounts are available? How do you open an account?
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.
Dangers of Short Selling
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.
Real Rate of Return
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.
Stock Buybacks
Stock buybacks can be a good deal for stockholders or a smokescreen to hide weak financial ratios.
Investing Risks
Understanding the risks of stock investing and how to guard against them can help you meet your financial goals.
Stocks and Inflation
Inflation has reared its ugly head - what does this mean for your stock investments?
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.
What Moves the Market
Major economic and political factors shape the stock market, but most of all the stock market hates uncertainty.
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.
Market Futures
Stock market index futures give you a clue about what traders think the market is going to do the next session.
P/E is Important
A stock's P/E is a key valuation measurement investors use to determine how much to pay for a stock.
Investing Scams
Investment scams come in many shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common - very high rates of return.
Zero Coupon Bonds
Zero coupon bonds are sold at a deep discount and redeemed at full face value.
Invest in Stocks
Despite the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, there are at least five good reasons to invest in stocks.
Stock Diversification
There two forms of diversification you should know to make your portfolio less volatile.
Return on Investments
You can use a few simple calculations to determine how your investments are performing and what they are returning.
Dividend Yield
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.
Asset Classes
There are four classes of assets you can use to build your portfolio - use them all for a sound foundation.
Sales/Price Ratio
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.
Stock Options
Trading stock options is not for beginners, but it can enhance your investing.
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.
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.
Compound Annual Growth
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.
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.
Market Makers
Market makers in the Nasdaq are responsible for creating and maintaining a market for securities listed on the exchange.
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.
Financial Advisers I
Financial advisers can map a blue print that will get you from where you are to your financial goals.
Institutional Ownership
The actions of the institutional owners of a stock can tell you something about the quality of the stock - sometimes you can believe it.
Cash Flow of Stocks
Cash flow is an important tool for investors in evaluating stocks for investment.
Stock Market Losses
There are several different types of losses you can suffer when investing in stocks - some less obvious than others.
Should You Own Stocks?
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.
Market Specialists at NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange sets prices of stocks by auction with the best price to buy and best price to sell always available.
Three Stock Keys
There are three steps to successful investing in the stock market.
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.
Buying Gold
Gold is an historic haven in times of economic stress, but you should use caution before buying the precious metal.
Value Investing
Value investing is about finding stocks overlooked by the market, but that are fundamentally sound with good growth prospects.
Bond Strategy
Investors often move out of a risky stock market into the bond market, but this strategy has risks also.
Margin Trading
Margin trading is a way to magnify your buying power by borrowing money from your broker for up to 50% of a stock purchase.
Investing in Retirement
How you fund and maintain your retirement plan is one of the most important investing in the stock market decisions you'll make.
Risk Premium
Risk and reward. They are two sides of the same coin – at least that’s the way it’s supposed to work
Bond 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.
Cash Flow to Debt
Cash flow to debt ratio is helpful in determining the financial strength (or weakness) of a company.
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 Information
Investing in stocks begins with a basic understanding of what stocks are, where they are traded and some fundamental rules.
Sell for a Profit
Knowing when and how to sell a winning stock is as important as knowing when to sell a losing stock.
Bankrupt
Whether stock or bond holders receive any money from bankruptcy proceeds depends on several factors.
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.
Stock Market Regulation
The stock market and securities industry is highly regulated. Several layers of regulatory oversight are designed to protect the individual investor.
Stock Price Trends
Investors are buying future growth when they invest in stocks.
Naked Short Selling
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.
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.
Better Investing
These three steps will help you get a better start in stock investing.
Google Stock Issue
Google is issuing 14,159,265 shares of Class A stock. What does that mean to investors?
What does Weak Dollar Mean?
The U.S. dollar is near all-time record lows against major foreign currencies - what does this mean for investors and consumers?
Trader or 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.
Bull, 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.
Watch Risk with Beta
Betas tell you a lot about a stock's volatility, however checking multiple web sites you may find different answers to that question.
Stock Screener List
Stock screens are helpful in selecting investment candidates. Here is a list of stock screens.
Averaging Down
Averaging down is a way to lower the average cost of a stock holding. It can also be a way to throw good money after bad.
Investing in REITs
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.
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization or market cap is a way of measuring the size of a company and is calculated by multiplying the current stock price by the number of outstanding shares.
Buying Winning Stocks
It makes good sense to look at the list of stocks closing at their 52-week high for investing ideas.
Investing strategies
Four main investment objectives define how you choose financial products for your portfolio.
Two Classes of Stocks?
Companies sometimes issue two classes of stock - one for the public and another for the founders.
Picking Winning Stocks
You know more about the companies that are or will become stock market winners than you think. They make the products and services that you use everyday at work or home.
Bonds and Interest Rates
Bonds respond to changes in interest rates, however this only comes into play if you buy or sell previously issued bonds.
Invest on Fundamentals
Old sayings contain a particle of truth, but you are better off investing on fundamentals than some cliche that's only right part of the time.
Free Cash Flow
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.
Picking Stocks
Picking great stocks for long-term investments is about picking great companies that will continue to be great.
Market Timing
Market timing is a strategy that attempts to predict future market movements using fundamental and technical analysis.
Choosing a Broker
What type of stockbroker is right for you? Online, discount, full service or money manager - each has advantages and disadvantages. Remember, you pay for what you get.
Relative Strength
Relative strength measures a stock's performance against the rest of the market and is helpful in evaluating investments.
Return on Assets
Return on Assets is an important number for investors to know when considering a stock. It provides a measure of efficiency.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock has some unique features, however don't let the name fool you, these shares leave much to be desired.
Types of Stocks
There are several ways to describe stocks, but two basic methods cover most situations: potential and size.
Portfolio Rebalancing
Rebalancing your portfolio is an important maintenance function that will keep your investing program on track and true to your goals.
Stock Market's PE
The stock market's PE is helpful in understanding the significance of major declines and advances.
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.
Value Investors
Value investors look for companies trading below their intrinsic value.
Following the Market
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.
Convertible Bonds
Convertible bonds appear to offer the best of both stocks and bonds, but complex factors make them hard to judge.
Introduction to Asset Allocati
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.
A Bond Ladder
A bond ladder solves the problem of interest rate risk for bond investors.
Corporate Bankruptcy
What happens to your stock or bonds when a company goes bankrupt?
Buying Stocks
One way to measure how well a company is doing involves comparing its financial ratios to peers and industry sector.
Stock Market Crash
The stock market crash of 1929 erased 90% of the market's value. Can another crash like that happen again?
Interest Rates and Stock Valua
Changes in interest rates effect stock valuations in a fundamental way by changing the required return.
Market Risk Premium
The stock market premium tells you how much over the return of a risk-free investment you should expect from stocks.
Foreign Stocks
Foreign stocks represent an investing opportunity outside the U.S. economy, but you can buy them on our markets through ADRs.
Traits of Great Stock
Great stocks and great companies have several traits that distinguish them from the rest of the pack.
Using P/E
A stock's P/E is one of the most important tools investors use. Use it wisely.
Value of Dollar
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?
Fee-Based Broker
Traditional stockbrokers are divided into two types: commissioned-based and fee-based. Fee-based brokers offer a wide variety of services in addition to handling your trades.
Operating Cash Flow
Operating cash flow measures how cash is generated in a company and whether the company is taking in more or less than it is spending.
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.
Debt Relief
It doesn't make sense to invest all of your extra cash, when high-interest debt payments are costing more than most investments earn.
Stock Buyback
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.
Stock Growth
Stocks have historically rebounded following a bear market. The question is when.
Value Stock Investing
Value investors look for stocks that are under-priced and use fundamental analysis tools to uncover candidates.
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.
What is a Stock?
What is a stock? How does it fit into our economy? What is a bond?
Cheap-Expensive Stocks
What does is mean when pundits say stocks are cheap (or expensive)?
Insider IPOs
IPOs may be exciting, but most investors never have a chance to get in at best price.
TICK Index
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.
Short-Interest Ratio
The short-interest ratio tells you whether your stock is an active target of short sellers
Setting Stock Prices
How stock prices are set may seem like an alternate reality, however once you understand some of the factors it is less confusing. These articles cover some of the factors that may push stock prices up or cause them to drop. Once you understand the basics, stock prices begin to make more sense.
IRAs and Investing
IRAs are great ways to save for retirement and take advantage of tax-deferred or tax-free grow of your investments.
How Many Stocks?
How many stocks should you own to have a diversified portfolio? There are no absolute rules, but here are some guidelines.
Good Stock Screen
The better stock screens offer similar characteristics that give you greater flexibility when looking for investment candidates.
Investing in Stem Cell Researc
Companies involved in stem cell research took a split decision in the Nov. 3 election. Sen. John Kerry had promised to lift restrictions on research. On the plus side, California passed a $3 billion initiative to fund stem cell research projects.
Initial Public Offering
The Initial Public Offering is the first time a company issues stock for sale to the public.

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