Slide Show | November 2011

How to Be a Better Stock Investor

By Anne Kates Smith

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Yes, we live in trying times, and investors should be concerned about a feeble economy and volatile markets. But more than ever, we need to approach our investments with logic, detachment and a long-term view.

By understanding the fundamentals of stock investing -- knowing how to buy and when to sell -- you can be a better investor in any market.

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How to Be a Better Stock Investor

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How to Buy: Understand the Company

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You don’t have to be a programmer to invest in Apple (symbol AAPL), but you should have a good idea of the competitive landscape for the iPad (and the iPhone and iMac).

You should have confidence in a firm’s leaders. Do you believe that new CEO Tim Cook can fill Steve Jobs’s shoes? Some firms -- Berkshire Hathaway is another good example -- seem hitched to a specific leader. For others, the culture is spread throughout the company.

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How to Buy: Understand the Company

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How to Buy: Use the Right Yardsticks

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An investor in Gap Inc. (symbol GPS), for example, monitors same-store sales (sales from stores open at least a year); an investor in an oil-and-gas producer, such as Devon Energy (DVN), looks at proven reserves.

Expect different rhythms: Machinery companies, such as Caterpillar (CAT), do well when the economy is roaring, while makers of consumer necessities -- think Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) -- tend to lead in a downturn.

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How to Buy: Use the Right Yardsticks

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How to Buy: Dig into the Financial Nitty-Gritty

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Look for an upward trend in sales and, especially, in earnings (both historical and forecast). Divide net income by revenues to find a company’s net profit margin. Even in slow times, firms with a handle on costs can improve margins.

Dollar General’s (symbol DG) net profit margin has expanded from 1.0% in 2008 to an estimated 5.3% in 2011. Especially in today’s tepid economy, look for a clean balance sheet with low levels of debt in relation to equity.

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How to Buy: Dig into the Financial Nitty-Gritty

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How to Buy: Gauge Price Relative to Key Measures

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Investors typically judge value by looking at the price-earnings ratio. Compare it with the overall market’s P/E (about 12, based on 2011 profit forecasts) and with P/Es of other stocks in the industry. All things being equal, a low P/E signals a bargain.

For some businesses, other ratios are key. Use price to book value (assets minus liabilities) for insurers, for example, and price to funds from operations for real estate investment trusts.

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How to Buy: Gauge Price Relative to Key Measures

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When to Sell: The Reason You Bought Changed

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The management team has left, or you’ve lost confidence in it. The company has shifted its strategy. Or the outlook for the company, or its industry, has deteriorated significantly. Look no further than the banking industry in 2008 to find examples of stocks to give up on for all of the reasons above.

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When to Sell: The Reason You Bought Changed

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When to Sell: Earnings Take a Detour

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It’s bad enough when earnings disappoint. But when the company says the blows will keep coming, take the news seriously.

In June, Research in Motion (symbol RIMM)reported weak quarterly results and warned that profits in the current fiscal year would come in well below already lowered expectations. The dismal outlook was a final confirmation for many that iPhones and Androids were eating BlackBerries’ lunch.

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When to Sell: Earnings Take a Detour

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When to Sell: The Ride has Gotten Scary

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It’s hard to know when a stock has become too expensive. Pricey stocks often become even pricier before they retreat. Still, it’s a red flag when the P/E becomes astronomical in relation to the market or to similar firms.

Cloud-computing darling Salesforce.com (symbol CRM) sells for 94 times earnings. Consider selling half now, and let the rest ride.

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When to Sell: The Ride has Gotten Scary

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