There are a lot of investors out there whogo it alone. They do their own research and make trades through a low-cost broker. These investors are to be congratulated for their entrepreneurial spirit, but the problem is that sometimes these brave folks don't know where to begin or, more specifically, how to screen for stocks.
In order to select an individual stock, investors first need a good source of prospective buys. This is where up-to-date stock screeners and market data can prove quite useful to the individual investor.
Key Takeaways
- Stock screeners and market data can help investors make insightful decisions about stock selection.
- Having up-to-date market data from a variety of sources that cover interest rates, the energy sector, and other economic indicators, such as unemployment and consumer sentiment, will help investors make good stock picks.
- Knowing what stocks to choose can be easier when an investor first knows what stocks not to choose. Avoiding distributors, commodity-type businesses, thinly-traded companies, and those not considered "best in class" is prudent.
- Investors should look for indicators that successful companies have, such as accelerated sales and earnings growth and high levels of insider buying.
- It's important for investors to analyze the financial statements of companies to identify any areas that signify strengths or weaknesses.
The Value of Timely Market Data
Investors need as much information as possible about what's going on in the market. This means tapping into a variety of sources for economic, industry, and company-specific information. To be clear, investors don't need to delve into statistics and the intricacies of every industry the same way Wall Street analysts do, but they do need to have a good grasp of what is driving the market.
Therefore, watchingbusiness reports via all kinds of media channels, reading newson financial websites, and tracking investor sentimenton social media are highly recommended. Savvy investors should be on the lookout for data and events that will drive the economy going forward. Obtaining information from a wide cross-section of sources will ensure that an investor isn't receiving a biased or incomplete news flow.
In terms of news, theseare some examples of the types of information investors should tap into on a regular basis.
Interest Rates
Information on interest rate trends, or the likelihood of a future rate hike or cut, is extremely valuable. Remember, if an investor can properly predict or anticipatethe likelihood of future rate cuts and increase their exposure to domestic equities, that investor stands to make a lot of money.
Again, this is why a timely, thoughtful analysis of economic news is important. Business television channels likeCNBC, Bloomberg, or Fox Business usually do a good job at not only reporting interest rate news but also helping the public gauge the potential for a change in future Fed policy.
Oil & Energy
Information on OPEC oil production and domestic inventory stockpiles is equally important. Why? The simplest answer is because our economy and future growth prospects depend on the ability to source oil at a reasonable price. This makes the supply/demand equation extremely important.
Again, financial media, including The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, do a great job at not just reporting this news, but also helping investors forecast possible changes in supply.
Economic Indicators
Next, consider consumer sentiment numbers, housing starts, and employment figures. These data sets, while primarily lagging indicators of the economy, give investors the sense of what the broader public is thinking and how they are spending their money. This is important data to have because it allows the savvy investor to see a trend and gauge the consumer's willingness to spend money on certain items in the near future.
As an example of using this data, if consumer sentiment is high, housing starts are steadily increasing and unemployment is down, one might properly assume that higher-end retailers will fare better. Conversely, when all of those indicators are flipped, a proper assumption would be that lower-end retailers would fare better.
The Types of Companies to Avoid
The trick to proper stock selection is being able to winnow down a number of potential investments to a few viable candidates. This can best be accomplished by knowing which types of companies to avoid.
Except in unusualcirc*mstances, investors should generally steer clear of:
Distributors or Commodity-Type Businesses
Since these companies aren't manufacturers, they are merely middlemen that rarely have any unique qualities that would draw large numbers of investors. Plus, in general, there is often less of a barrier to competition when it comes to becoming a distributor.
Examples of such businesses would be makers of children's stuffed animals (non-specializedtoys are a well-known commodity) and consumer electronics distributors that simply ship goods to retailers. These businesses could easily see their profits shrink if they lose even one sizable retail account or if the manufacturer finds a different distributor to ship the goods for less.
Gross Margins Below 20%
The most basic reason is that there is almost no margin for error. In fact, even the slightest downtick in business could send profits plunging. Typically, commodity-type businesses and distributors carry low margins. But so do certain start-ups that need to offer their goods and/or services at a lower cost in order to gain market share. Again, all of these companies are inherently "riskier."
Not Considered "Best in Class"
Like your parents always said, "you get what you pay for." In other words, second-tier companies often remain second-tier companies unless they have the potential to one day become an industry top dog. How can an investor tell whether a company is "best in class?"Odds are it will have the largest market capitalization in the business, the largest presence in terms of geographic footprint, and will tend to be a "trendsetter" in the industry (in terms of price, technology, and product offerings) in which it operates.Walmart, Apple, and Amazon are goodexamples of such companies.
Thinly Traded
Thinly traded means that these companies generally only trade fewer than 100,000 shares per day. The market or "spread" for these types of stocks is often extremely volatile. In fact, investors have enough to deal with when it comes to analyzing the fundamentals. Sharp swings in supply and demand and the potential impact on the share price are just too hard to gauge, even for a seasoned investor.
Companies That Have Announced an Acquisition
Companies that take on big acquisitions often end up reporting large, unforeseen expenses that can put a big damper on near-term earnings. Again, while such a deal could present an enormous opportunity, the downside potential is far too often overlooked.
Manhattan Bagel is a terrific example of this. In the late nineties,the nationally known bagel chain bought one of its biggest rivals on the West Coast. But it turns out there were accounting problems and the stores that the company bought didn't turn out to be nearly as profitable as it (or investors) had initially hoped. Because the acquisition was so huge, Manhattan Bagel couldn't weather the problems and was eventually forced to file for bankruptcy protection.
Identifying Successful Companies
There are a number of characteristics that successful companies tend to have.
Accelerated Sales and Earnings Growth
Look for companies that are growing their top and bottom lines in excess of 15%. Why this threshold? It's because this is the benchmark that many institutions look for prior to getting into a stock.
Of course, keep in mind that companies that grow at a faster pace often have trouble maintaining their growth after a few years, and are more likely to disappoint investors. Ideally, a range between 15%and 25%is the most desirable.
High Levels of Insider Buying
Insider buying is a great indicator that a company may be undervalued. Why? Because while some senior executives may buy shares simply to demonstrate their faith in the company, the lion's share buy company stock for just one reason: to make money.
Look specifically for companies where several insiders are buying at or near the current market price. A terrific source for insider data is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, other non-governmental sources also offer good data on this subject, including Finviz and Morningstar.
Companies Showing a Solid Chart
While technical analysis shouldn't be a major factor in the stock selection process, it does have its role. Ideally, investors should be on the lookout for a company that is steadily advancing in price on higher volume. Why? Because stocks that advance on increasing volume are under accumulation. In other words, there is a broad-based momentum in the stock that is likely to continue to bring it to new levels. Picture the trajectory of an airplane taking off; that's what you are looking for!
Also, you may want to look for stocks that are making new highs. Often companies that are breaking through (or have already broken through) technical resistancelevels have recently experienced some positive fundamental improvement that is drawing attention to the stock.
Buy What You Know
Legendary investorPeter Lynch was famous for saying that all investors should either use or be very familiar with the products/companies they invest in. While this may sound like common sense, many investors tend to ignore this timeless advice.
What's the advantage of buying what you know?
Investors with intimate knowledge of the products and the companies they buy can better understand their growth potential. Incidentally, it also makes it easier for them to predict future sales and earnings growth, and/or to compare their product offerings with those of other industry participants.
Pay Attention to Financials
Investors should always review the major financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement) of the companies they invest in.
Specifically, investors should be on the lookout for:
Inventory Growth in Proximity to Revenue Growth
Companies whose inventories grow at a faster rate than their sales are more likely to be caught with obsolete inventory at a later date if sales growth suddenly slows.
Looking at a company's inventory turnover ratio can provide insight into how fast a company sells its inventory.
Accounts Receivable Growth in Proximity toSales Growth
Companies whose accounts receivable are growing at a faster clip than sales may be having trouble collecting debts.
Tangible Liquid Assets
Companies with a large amount of cash and other tangible (hard, liquid) assets tend to be more solid than those that do not. A large amount of cash and other liquid assets will provide the company with the means to pay its short-term debts and service its longer-term notes even in difficult times.
The Bottom Line
Knowing how to screen for stocks and specifically what to look for is a major battle for most investors that go it alone. The above commentary should serve as a starting point for entrepreneurial investors. If you take the initiative, you will gain insight and sharpen your skills as you go along.
