Cash Flow
Measures the net amount of cash moving into and out of a business. It reveals how a company generates and uses cash across operations, investments, and financing, providing a truer picture of health than net income alone.
| Type | Positive Interpretation | Negative Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Operating | Core business is profitable | Operations are losing cash |
| Investing | Selling assets to raise cash | Investing heavily in future growth |
| Financing | Raising capital (debt/equity) | Repaying debt, buying back stock |
| Free Cash Flow | Surplus cash after investments | Not enough cash to cover expenses |
Williams %R
A momentum indicator that shows whether a stock is overbought or oversold relative to its recent high-low range. It helps traders identify potential reversal points.
| %R Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0 to -20 | Overbought – potential price pullback |
| -20 to -80 | Neutral zone – trend continuation likely |
| -80 to -100 | Oversold – potential price rebound |
Current Ratio
A key liquidity metric that assesses a company's ability to cover its short-term obligations (due within one year) with its short-term assets. It answers the question: 'Can the company pay its immediate bills?'
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.0 | Potential liquidity risk; liabilities exceed assets |
| 1.0 – 2.0 | Healthy liquidity; good short-term financial health |
| > 2.0 | Very safe, but may indicate inefficient use of assets |
Debt to Equity
Quantifies a company's financial leverage by comparing its total liabilities to its shareholder equity. It indicates how much of the company's financing comes from debt versus equity, highlighting its reliance on borrowing.
| D/E Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.0 | Low leverage; primarily equity-funded |
| 1.0 – 2.0 | Moderate leverage; balanced financing |
| > 2.0 | High leverage; higher financial risk |
Dividend Yield
Shows how much a company pays in dividends each year relative to its stock price. It's a key measure of the return an investor can expect from dividends alone, often favored by income-focused investors.
| Yield % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 2% | Likely a growth-focused company, reinvesting profits |
| 2–5% | Balanced approach to growth and shareholder returns |
| > 5% | High yield, potentially an income stock or a sign of risk |
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization
Stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. It's a proxy for a company's core operational profitability before accounting and financing decisions are factored in.
| Trend | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Consistently Growing | Strong and improving core business performance |
| Declining or Volatile | Weakening operational profitability or instability |
Enterprise Value to EBITDA
Compares a company's Enterprise Value (EV) to its EBITDA. This valuation multiple is often preferred over P/E as it's capital structure-neutral, making it useful for comparing companies with different levels of debt.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 10 | Potentially undervalued or in a mature industry |
| 10–15 | Considered a fair valuation for many industries |
| > 15 | Potentially overvalued or a high-growth company |
Market Cap to Sales
The Price-to-Sales ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its total revenue. It’s particularly useful for valuing growth companies that may not yet be profitable.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1 | Potentially undervalued if sales are strong |
| 1–3 | A common range for fairly valued, established companies |
| > 3 | High valuation; significant future growth is priced in |
Money Flow Index
A momentum indicator that incorporates both price and volume to measure buying and selling pressure. It is often referred to as the volume-weighted RSI, helping to identify overbought or oversold conditions.
| MFI Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 20 | Oversold conditions; potential buying opportunity |
| 20–80 | Neutral market sentiment |
| > 80 | Overbought conditions; potential selling opportunity |
Operating Margin
Measures how much profit a company makes on a dollar of sales, after paying for variable costs of production but before paying interest or tax. It reveals the efficiency of a company's core business operations.
| Margin % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| High & Stable | Strong operational efficiency and pricing power |
| Low or Declining | Cost pressures or weakening competitive position |
Price to Earnings Ratio
The Price-to-Earnings ratio compares a company's stock price to its earnings per share. It's a classic valuation metric indicating how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings.
| P/E | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 15 | Often considered a 'value' stock |
| 15–25 | Average valuation for the broader market |
| > 25 | Indicates high growth expectations or 'growth' stock |
Price to Book Ratio
The Price-to-Book ratio compares a company's market capitalization to its book value (assets minus liabilities). A low ratio could mean the stock is undervalued, especially for asset-heavy industries.
| PB | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1 | Potentially undervalued; trading for less than its assets |
| 1–3 | Fairly valued for many stable businesses |
| > 3 | Premium valuation; common for asset-light tech firms |
Return on Equity
Measures a corporation's profitability in relation to the equity invested by its shareholders. In short, it answers: 'How effectively is the company using our money to generate profits?'
| ROE % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| > 15% | Indicates highly efficient use of shareholder capital |
| 10-15% | Solid and acceptable returns |
| < 10% | Suggests inefficient use of capital or weak profitability |
Relative Strength Index
The Relative Strength Index is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements. It identifies overbought or oversold conditions in a stock, signaling potential trend reversals.
| RSI Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 30 | Oversold; may be due for a price rebound |
| 30–70 | Neutral; no clear momentum signal |
| > 70 | Overbought; may be due for a price correction |
Return on Capital Employed
Evaluates a company’s efficiency at generating profits from its total capital (both equity and debt). It shows how well the company is using all available capital to generate earnings.
| ROCE % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| > 15% | Strong capital efficiency and healthy profitability |
| 10-15% | Reasonable returns; operationally sound |
| < 10% | Potential inefficiency in capital utilization |
Quick Ratio
Also known as the acid‑test ratio; measures short‑term liquidity excluding inventory—asks whether the company can pay current liabilities using its most liquid assets.
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.0 | May struggle to meet obligations without selling inventory |
| > 1.0 | Able to cover short‑term liabilities with liquid assets |
Gross Margin
Shows the percentage of revenue remaining after deducting the cost of goods sold (COGS). Indicates production efficiency and pricing strategy strength.
| Margin % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| High (e.g. > 40%) | Strong product pricing or low production costs |
| Low or Declining | Pressure on pricing or rising COGS |
Return on Assets
Indicates how profitable a company is relative to its total assets. Reflects how efficiently management uses assets to generate earnings.
| ROA % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| > 5–10% | Efficient asset utilization |
| < 5% | Possible inefficiencies or asset-heavy structure |
Price/Earnings to Growth Ratio
Price/Earnings to Growth ratio adjusts P/E by factoring in earnings growth. Helps assess valuation relative to growth expectations.
| PEG | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| ≈ 1 | Valuation aligns with growth rate |
| < 1 | Possibly undervalued given growth |
| > 1 | Possibly overvalued relative to growth |
Beta
Measures a stock’s volatility relative to the overall market. Indicates how much a stock's price moves compared to a benchmark like the S&P 500.
| Beta | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1 | Less volatile than the market |
| ≈ 1 | Moves in line with market |
| > 1 | More volatile than market; higher risk/reward |
Moving Average Convergence Divergence
Moving Average Convergence Divergence; a momentum oscillator based on the difference between short and long-term moving averages (usually 12‑ and 26‑day EMAs). Used to identify trend direction and strength.
| MACD Line vs Signal | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| MACD crosses above signal | Bullish momentum |
| MACD crosses below signal | Bearish momentum |
Bollinger Band
A volatility indicator using a moving average with upper/lower bands set by standard deviations. Helps detect overbought/oversold levels and volatility spikes.
| Price relative to bands | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Touches upper band | Potential overbought condition |
| Touches lower band | Potential oversold condition |
| Bands widening | Increasing volatility |
| Bands contracting | Decreasing volatility |
Average True Range
Average True Range measures market volatility by decomposing the entire range of an asset price for a given period.
| ATR | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| High ATR | High volatility; larger price swings |
| Low ATR | Low volatility; quieter market |
Churn Rate
Used for subscription businesses; the rate at which customers cancel. Vital for SaaS and recurring‑revenue companies.
| Churn % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Low (< 5%) | Stable/healthy recurring revenue |
| High (> 10%) | Possible customer dissatisfaction or high turnover |
Customer Acquisition Cost
The average cost to acquire a new customer. Helps assess marketing efficiency and payback period.
| CAC | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Low vs LTV | Efficient customer acquisition |
| High vs LTV | May not be profitable long‑term |
Debt to EBITDA
Measures how many years it would take a company to pay off its debt, assuming current EBITDA stays constant. Gauges leverage relative to operating earnings.
| Debt/EBITDA | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 3 | Manageable leverage |
| 3–5 | Moderate leverage |
| > 5 | High leverage; riskier debt load |
Price to Cash Flow
Compares a company’s market value to its operating cash flow. Useful for assessing valuation based on real cash generation rather than earnings, which can be more easily manipulated.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 10 | Potentially undervalued with strong cash flow |
| 10–20 | Fair valuation |
| > 20 | Overvalued or weak cash flow relative to market cap |
Interest Coverage Ratio
Measures a firm's ability to pay interest on its debt, calculated as EBIT divided by interest expense. Indicates how comfortably a company can service its debt from operating earnings.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.5 | Struggling to cover interest costs |
| 1.5–3 | Moderate coverage; caution advised |
| > 3 | Comfortable interest coverage |
Altman Z‑Score
A formula combining multiple ratios to predict the probability of bankruptcy within two years. Commonly used to assess corporate financial distress risk.
| Z‑Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.8 | High bankruptcy risk |
| 1.8–3.0 | Grey area; caution |
| > 3.0 | Financially healthy |
Inventory Turnover
Indicates how many times a company’s inventory is sold and replaced over a period. High turnover suggests efficient inventory management.
| Turns per period | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| High | Efficient sales and inventory use |
| Low | Potential overstock or slow sales |
Days Sales Outstanding
Measures the average number of days it takes a company to collect payment after a sale. A key indicator of credit and cash collection efficiency.
| Days | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Low | Faster collections; efficient receivables management |
| High | Slow collections; potential cash flow issues |
Operating Cash Flow Ratio
Compares operating cash flow to current liabilities, showing how well operations generate cash to meet short-term debts.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1.0 | May struggle to meet short-term liabilities |
| > 1.0 | Strong operating cash to cover liabilities |
Current Free Cash Flow Yield
Compares free cash flow per share to the share price. Reflects how much free cash flow investors are getting per dollar invested.
| Yield % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 5% | Modest free cash return |
| 5–10% | Attractive yield |
| > 10% | High yield; check sustainability |
Gross Sales to Net Sales Ratio
Compares gross sales to net sales to understand the impact of returns, discounts, or allowances on revenue.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| ≈ 1.0 | Minimal deductions from gross sales |
| < 0.95 | Significant returns/discounts reducing net revenue |
Sharpe Ratio
A risk-adjusted return metric that measures excess return per unit of volatility. Used to evaluate the efficiency of investment performance.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 1 | Sub-optimal risk-adjusted return |
| 1–2 | Good risk-adjusted return |
| > 2 | Excellent risk-adjusted return |
Treynor Ratio
Similar to the Sharpe ratio but uses systematic risk (beta) instead of total volatility. Measures how much excess return an investor is receiving for each unit of market risk taken.
| Ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Higher | Better return relative to market risk |
| Lower | Underperforming on a risk-adjusted basis |
Earnings Per Share
The portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock. It serves as a key indicator of a company's profitability and is a primary driver of its stock price.
| Trend | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Consistently Growing | Strong and increasing profitability per share |
| Declining or Negative | Weakening profitability, potential operational issues, or losses |
Dividend Payout Ratio
The percentage of earnings paid to shareholders in dividends. This ratio reveals how much of its profit a company returns to shareholders versus how much it retains to reinvest in growth.
| Ratio % | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 30% | Low payout; high earnings retention for reinvestment and growth |
| 30% – 60% | Sustainable and balanced approach to dividends and growth |
| > 60% | High payout; could limit future growth or be unsustainable |
| > 100% | Unsustainable; paying out more than it earns |
Working Capital
Measures a company's operational liquidity, calculated as Current Assets minus Current Liabilities. It represents the resources available to finance day-to-day operations.
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Strongly Positive | Sufficient cash and liquid assets to cover short-term obligations |
| Slightly Positive or Negative | Potential liquidity issues; may struggle to pay bills efficiently |
| Strongly Negative | High risk of a liquidity crisis or insolvency |
Simple Moving Average
Calculates the average price of a security over a specific number of periods. SMAs are a core tool for identifying trend direction and generating crossover signals.
| Crossover Event | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Price crosses above SMA | Bullish signal; short-term momentum is positive |
| Price crosses below SMA | Bearish signal; short-term momentum is negative |
| Golden Cross (SMA 50 > SMA 200) | Signal for a potential long-term bull market |
| Death Cross (SMA 50 < SMA 200) | Signal for a potential long-term bear market |
Stochastic Oscillator
A momentum indicator that compares a security's closing price to its price range over a given time period. It helps identify overbought and oversold conditions.
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 20 | Oversold; may be due for a price bounce |
| 20 – 80 | Neutral; no clear momentum signal |
| > 80 | Overbought; may be due for a price pullback |
On-Balance Volume
A momentum indicator that uses volume flow to predict changes in stock price. It suggests that volume precedes price moves, helping to confirm trends or spot reversals.
| Trend | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Rising OBV | Confirms an uptrend (buying pressure) |
| Falling OBV | Confirms a downtrend (selling pressure) |
| Divergence (e.g., Price Up, OBV Down) | Potential trend reversal ahead |
Average Directional Index
A technical indicator used to determine the strength of a trend, but not its direction. It helps traders decide whether to use a trend-following or a range-trading strategy.
| ADX Value | Trend Strength |
|---|---|
| < 25 | Weak or non-existent trend (ranging market) |
| 25 – 50 | Strong trend |
| > 50 | Very strong and mature trend |
Ichimoku Cloud (Kumo)
A versatile, all-in-one indicator that provides information on trend direction, momentum, and dynamic support/resistance levels. The 'Cloud' is its most prominent feature.
| Price Location | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Above the Cloud | Strong bullish trend |
| Below the Cloud | Strong bearish trend |
| Inside the Cloud | Trend is consolidating or unclear; high volatility |
| Cloud Color | Green cloud suggests bullish bias; red cloud suggests bearish bias |
Fibonacci Retracement
A technical analysis tool used to identify potential support and resistance levels. It's based on the idea that prices will retrace a predictable portion of a move before continuing in the original direction.
| Key Levels | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8% | Potential support levels in an uptrend or resistance levels in a downtrend |
| Retracement holds at a level | Confirms the level as support/resistance, suggesting trend continuation |
| Price breaks through a key level | Suggests the previous trend may be weakening or reversing |
Book Value Per Share
Calculates the per-share value of a company based on its equity available to common shareholders. It represents the net asset value of a company on a per-share basis.
| Comparison | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Stock Price < BVPS | May indicate the stock is undervalued |
| Stock Price > BVPS | Investors are willing to pay a premium over the company's net asset value |
Cash Conversion Cycle
Measures the number of days it takes a company to convert its investments in inventory and other resources into cash flows from sales. A lower number is better.
| CCC Value (Days) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Low or Negative | Highly efficient; company gets paid by customers before it pays suppliers |
| High or Increasing | Cash is tied up in inventory and receivables for longer; potential inefficiency |
Canslim Basket
Companies demonstrating strong, recent growth in both earnings and sales, a core principle of the CANSLIM methodology.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| YoY EPS Growth | > | 20% |
| Quarterly Sales Growth | > | 25% |
Efficient Bank
Banks that operate with high operational efficiency and profitability, indicated by low costs relative to income and high returns on equity.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-to-Income Ratio | < | 55% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | > | 15% |
Rising Star
Small-cap companies exhibiting hyper-growth characteristics, aiming to become future market leaders.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | < | $2B |
| YoY Revenue Growth | > | 30% |
Debt Independent
Companies with exceptionally strong balance sheets, operating with virtually no debt.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | < | 0.1 |
Peter Lynch's Favorite
Stable, growing companies with low debt, aligning with the investment philosophy of Peter Lynch.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | < | 0.5 |
| YoY Earnings Growth | > | 15% |
Institution Favorite
Companies backed by increasing conviction from institutional investors, indicated by a recent rise in ownership.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional Holdings Increase (Quarterly) | > | 5% |
Dividend Star
Companies that offer an attractive dividend yield supported by sustainable earnings.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | > | 3% |
| Payout Ratio | < | 60% |
Rigid Riser
Companies achieving organic growth without diluting shareholder value by issuing new stock.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| YoY Revenue Growth | > | 10% |
| Shares Outstanding Growth | < | 1% |
Turnaround Champ
Companies that have successfully reversed a period of poor performance and are now demonstrating sustained profitability.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (2 Years Ago) | < | 0 |
| Trailing Twelve Months EPS | > | 0 |
Capital Expander
Companies actively investing in future growth through significant, publicly announced capital expenditure plans.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Significant CapEx Announcement (Last 6 Months) | exists | true |
Emerging Bluechip
Quality mid-cap stocks that exhibit strong profitability and higher-than-average growth potential.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | between | $2B-$10B |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | > | 18% |
| YoY Sales Growth | > | 15% |
Profit Spinner
Companies that demonstrate operational leverage by disproportionately growing profits relative to sales.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Net Profit Margin Expansion (YoY) | > | 2% |
Cash Cow
Highly profitable companies that generate substantial and consistent free cash flow relative to their market price.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Yield | > | 10% |
Stable Compounder
Reliable companies that have demonstrated an ability to consistently grow both their top and bottom lines over a long period.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Consecutive Years of Revenue & EPS Growth | >= | 5 |
Graham's Favorite
Value stocks that meet Benjamin Graham's classic criteria for being quantitatively undervalued.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio | < | 15 |
| Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio | < | 1.5 |
Efficient Operator
Companies that are highly effective at using their assets to generate revenue.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Asset Turnover Ratio | > | 1.5 |
Value Bargain
Companies whose stocks are potentially undervalued, trading at a discount to their tangible book value while maintaining profitability.
| Metric | Operator | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio | < | 1.0 |
| Forward EPS Estimate | > | 0 |