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9 Simple Ratios Every Great Investor Uses - Buffett Included!Forget the hype, headlines, or hope. These 9 financial ratios are what real investors actually use to pick winners, but... P/E? ROE? EPS? 🧐 - What are they, or better yet, WHO are they? 🤯 - How high is “too high”? - Is a low number always good, or just a trap? - Do all industries follow the same rules… or is that another myth? Buffett. Greenblatt. Graham. Lynch. They didn’t rely on vibes — they trusted fundamentals After years of relying on charts, I built a 9-point fundamentals checklist to filter stocks faster and smarter. Now I’m sharing it with real-life examples and key insights to help you spot what really makes a stock worth owning: Easy enough for new investors diving into fundamentals Sharp enough to level up seasoned pros Real enough to avoid hype …but the truth is: these numbers did flag companies like Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia before the market gave them credit. ----------------------------------------------------- ✅ Quick Reference Table Scan the table, then dive into the stories… First Pro Tip: Bookmark this. You’ll check these before every stock pick. ----------------------------------------------------- 📊 1. P/E Ratio | Price-to-Earnings What it tells you: How much you pay for each dollar of a company’s profit. Short Example: A P/E of 20 means you pay $20 for $1 of profit. High P/E? Expect big growth or risk overpaying. Strong: Between 15 and 25 Caution: Above 30 (unless fast growth) Industry Averages: - Tech: 25–40 - Utilities: 10–15 - Consumer Staples: 15–20 - Energy: 10–20 - Healthcare: 20–30 Story: In early 2023, NVIDIA’s P/E ratio hovered around 25, near the low end for tech stocks. Investors who saw this as a steal amid the AI boom were rewarded—NVIDIA’s stock made 4x by the end of 2024 as AI chip demand soared. Contrast that with Tesla in Q1 2025, when its P/E spiked above 40 with slowing sales and Tesla’s stock dropped 50% in weeks. Pro tip: A low P/E is not always good. If growth is weak or falling, it's often a trap. Example: A utility company with a P/E of 30 is probably overpriced. A tech stock with 35 might still be fair — if growth justifies it. ----------------------------------------------------- 🧠 2. PEG Ratio | Price-to-Earnings-to-Growth What it tells you: If a high P/E is worth it based on future profit growth. Whether the earnings growth justifies the price. Short Example: A PEG below 1 means you’re getting growth at a fair price. High PEG? You’re overpaying. Strong: Below 1 Caution: Above 2 Industry Averages: - Software: below 1.5 is solid - Consumer Goods: Below 2 is more realistic - Tech: Below 1 - Consumer Staples: Below 1.5 - Healthcare: Below 1.2 - Financials: Below 1.5 - Energy: Below 1.3 Story: In mid-2022, Salesforce’s PEG was 0.8 (P/E 35, forward EPS growth 45%) as cloud demand surged. Investors who spotted this steal saw the stock climb 130% by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, Peloton in 2023 had a P/E of 20 but near-zero growth (PEG above 3). Its stock cratered -50% as fitness trends faded. Story: NVIDIA’s PEG hit 0.9 in Q3 2023 (P/E 30, growth 35%) during AI hype, a steal for tech (average PEG below 1.2). PEG filters hype. A stock can look expensive until you factor in growth. ----------------------------------------------------- 🧱 3. P/B Ratio | Price-to-Book What it tells you: How much you pay compared to what the company owns (like buildings or cash). Short Example: A P/B below 1.5 means you’re paying close to the company’s asset value. High P/B? Expect strong profits or risk. Strong: Below 1.5 Caution: Below 1 + poor earnings = value trap Industry Averages: - Banks: Below 1.5 - Insurance: Below 1.3 - REITs: Use NAV (aim below 1.2) - Tech: Often ignored - Energy: Below 2 Story: In 2024, JPMorgan Chase’s P/B was 1.4, solid for banks (average below 1.5). Investors who bought enjoyed 100% gains. n 2023, Bed Bath & Beyond’s P/B fell below 1 with collapsing earnings. It looked cheap but filed for bankruptcy that year. Tip: Only use this in asset-heavy sectors like banking or real estate. ----------------------------------------------------- ⚙️ 4. ROE | Return on Equity What it tells you: How well a company turns investor money into profits. Short Example: An ROE above 15% means the company makes good money from your investment. Low ROE? Weak returns. Strong: Above 15% Caution: Below 10% unless in slow-growth industries Industry Averages: - Tech: 20–30% - Consumer Staples: 15–25% - Utilities: 8–12% - Financials: 10–15% - Healthcare: 15–20% Story: Coca-Cola (KO) has kept ROE above 35% for years, a sign of brand power and pricing strength. Eli Lilly’s (LLY) ROE stayed above 25% from 2022–2024, a healthcare leader (average 15–20%). Its weight-loss drug Mounjaro drove consistent profits, lifting the stock 150%+ in two years. Checking ROE trends helped investors spot this winner. Tip: If ROE is high but D/E is also high, be careful, it might just be leverage. ----------------------------------------------------- 💰 5. Net Margin | Profitability What it tells you: How much profit a company keeps from its sales or what % of revenue ends up as pure profit. Short Example: A 10% margin means $10 profit per $100 in sales. Low margin? Tough business or high costs. Strong: Above 10-15%+ Caution: Below 5% Industry Averages: - Software: 20–30% - Retail: 2–5% - Manufacturing: 8–12% - Consumer Staples: 10–15% - Energy: 5–10% - Healthcare: 8–15% Story: Walmart’s (WMT) 2% net margin looks tiny — but it’s expected in retail. A software firm with 5%? That’s a warning — high costs or weak pricing. In 2023, Zoom’s (ZM) net margin fell to 5% (down from 25% in 2021), well below software’s 20–30% average. Pricing pressure and competition crushed its stock quite a lot. Meanwhile, Apple’s 25% margin in 2024 (tech average 20%) remained a cash cow. Tip: Margins show whether the company owns its pricing or competes on price. ----------------------------------------------------- 💣 6. D/E Ratio | Debt-to-Equity What it tells you: How much debt a company uses compared to investor money. Short Example: A D/E below 1 means more investor cash than debt. High D/E? Risky if profits dip. Strong: Below 1 Caution: Above 2 (except REITs or utilities) Industry Averages: - Tech: 0–0.5 - Industrials: 0.5–1.5 - REITs: 1.5–2.5 (manageable due to structure) - Utilities: 1–2 - Energy: 0.5–1.5 Story: In 2024, Tesla’s D/E dropped below 0.3 (tech average 0–0.5) as it paid down debt, signaling strength despite sales dips - a massive rally afterward. Tip: Rising debt + falling profits = a storm coming. Always check both. ----------------------------------------------------- 💵 7. Free Cash Flow (FCF) What it tells you: Cash left after paying for operations and growth investments. Short Example: Apple’s $100 billion cash pile in 2024 funded stock buybacks, boosting shares. Low cash? Trouble looms. Strong: Positive and growing Caution: Negative for multiple years Sector notes: - Tech: Lots of cash (think billions) - Industrials: Up and down, check trends - REITs: Look at FFO (cash from properties), aim high - Energy: Has cash, but swings with oil prices - Healthcare: Steady cash, not too high Story: Netflix had negative FCF while scaling content. Once costs stabilized, FCF turned positive and stock re-rated sharply. Pro tip: Profits don’t mean much without real cash. FCF is often more honest. Cash is king: Companies need cash to pay bills, reduce debt, or fund growth. If FCF is falling, they might be burning through cash reserves or borrowing, which isn’t sustainable. Potential issues : This mismatch could signal problems like poor cash collection, heavy spending, or even accounting tricks to inflate profits. ----------------------------------------------------- 🚀 8. EPS Growth | Earnings Power What it tells you: How fast a company’s profits per share are growing. Short Example: EPS up 10% yearly means more profit per share, lifting stock prices. Flat EPS? No growth, no gains. Strong: Above 10% Caution: Below 5%, flat/negative for 3+ years Industry Averages: - Tech: 15–30% - Staples: 5–10% - REITs: 3–6% (via FFO growth) - Healthcare: 10–15% - Financials: 5–10% - Energy: 5–15% (cyclical) Story: In Q1 2024, NVIDIA’s forward EPS growth of 30% (tech average 20%+) fueled a rally as AI chips dominated. Checking forward estimates helped investors avoid traps like Intel, with flat EPS and a drop. Pro tip: A stock with flat EPS and no dividend? There’s no reason to own it. ----------------------------------------------------- 💵 9. Dividend Yield | Passive Income What it tells you: How much cash you get yearly from dividends per dollar invested. Short Example: A 3% yield means $3 per $100 invested. High yield? Check if it’s sustainable. Good: ~3–4% Red Flag: Above 6% with a payout ratio above 80-90% Industry Averages: - Utilities: 3–5% - REITs: 3–6% - Consumer Staples: 2–4% - Tech: 0–2% - Energy: 2–5% ----------------------------------------------------- 💡 Final Thought: How to Use All of This Top investors don’t use just one metric. They look at the whole picture: Good growth? Check PEG. Good profits? Confirm with ROE and margin. Safe balance sheet? Look at D/E and cash flow. Fair valuation? P/E + FCF Yield + P/B. Real power = Combining metrics. A company with P/E 15, PEG 0.8, ROE 20%, low debt, and positive FCF? That’s your winner. A stock with P/E 8, but no growth, high debt, and negative cash flow? That’s a trap. ----------------------------------------------------- Real-World Combos 🎯Winners: Tech Gem: P/E 20, PEG 0.8, ROE 25%, D/E 0.4, growing FCF, EPS 20%+ (e.g., NVIDIA 2023: AI-driven growth, stock soared). Energy Steal: P/E 15, P/B 1.5, FCF positive, Dividend Yield 3.5% (e.g., Chevron 2023: Cash flow king). ⚠️Traps: Value Trap: P/E 8, flat EPS, D/E 2.5, negative FCF (e.g., Peloton 2023). Overhyped Tech: P/E 50, PEG 3, Net Margin 5%, D/E 1.5 (e.g., Rivian 2024). ----------------------------------------------------- 🚀 Share your own combos! What do you personally look for when picking a stock? If you spotted something off in the numbers, or have a valuable insight to add — please, drop it in the comments.👇 💡 Let’s turn this into a thread that’s not just good but superb and genuinely helpful for everyone. ----------------------------------------------------- Final Thought “Buy great companies at fair prices, not fair companies at great prices.” – Warren Buffett This guide gives you the map. Charts, tell you when. These numbers tell you what, and why. And this post? It’s just the beginning! These 9 metrics are part one of a bigger series I’m building — where we’ll go even deeper, with more advanced ratios, smarter combos, and real case studies. If this guide helped you see financial numbers a little clearer, there’s a good chance it’ll help your investor friend too, especially if they’re just starting their journey...🤝Share it with them! I built this as much for myself as for anyone else who wants to get better.👊 If you made it this far — thank you! 🙏 ...and super thankful if you hit "The Boost" on this post 🚀 Cheers, Vaido
NASDAQ:TSLAEducation
by VaidoVeek
2
Why Coinbase (COIN) Shares Are RisingWhy Coinbase (COIN) Shares Are Rising As the Coinbase (COIN) stock chart shows, trading closed yesterday above the $200 mark — for the first time since March. Since the beginning of April, COIN's share price has risen by nearly 20%, while the S&P 500 index (US SPX 500 mini on FXOpen) has declined by approximately 2%. Bullish Drivers Behind COIN’s Price Rise According to media reports, several factors are contributing to the bullish momentum: → Yesterday’s announcement that Coinbase and PayPal are expanding their partnership in the areas of crypto payments and decentralised finance (DeFi). The collaboration aims to increase the adoption of the PYUSD stablecoin and integrate it into merchant settlements. → The anticipated adoption of US stablecoin legislation, designed to establish a regulatory framework for the use of stablecoins. This is being supported by the Trump administration’s progressive stance on cryptocurrencies, including the appointment of crypto-friendly officials, the creation of a strategic crypto reserve, and other pro-crypto initiatives. Technical Analysis of COIN Stock The psychological level of $150, which served as strong support in 2024, has proven resilient again in April 2025. However, despite the rapid rise in price from $150 to $200 in under three weeks, there are reasons to believe that bullish sentiment may begin to fade: → The COIN share price remains within a downward trend, highlighted by a channel originating in early 2025. → The upper boundary of the channel may act as a resistance level. → Bears have previously demonstrated control in the $225–240 zone, where the price declined sharply (marked with a red rectangle). This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
NASDAQ:COIN
by FXOpen
1
Monitoring to Entry – AN/PAGThis pair was added to our Awaiting Confirmation list on April 16 , after showing a potential setup for a long position based on price deviation. As of April 17 , the setup evolved further: The pair Started below the lower Bollinger Band , suggesting continued price dislocation. Stochastic %K and %D were both under 20 , indicating an Oversold condition. ADX = 12.0 – signaling a sideways market, favorable for mean reversion. DI-/DI+ ratio = 1.86 – still shows dominance of sellers, but that value improved (decreased) from the previous day. A strong bullish candle appeared, reinforcing the shift in momentum. Conclusion: Although not all indicators were aligned perfectly, the price structure and early momentum reversal were enough for me to trigger a long entry as of April 17. Now, I am monitoring this position with close attention to DI dynamics and further stochastic confirmation.
NYSE:ANLong
by YoavShachak
ABSA BANK KENYAABSA Bank and Co-operative Bank Kenya have a strong positive correlation. In 2025, we have seen the correlation drop with a small margin, and Co-operative Bank stock price did not move higher as much as ABSA did. Both bank dividend payouts have a difference of .05, which is negligible. Fundamentally, Co-operative Bank has stronger fundamentals than ABSA Bank Kenya. From a risk-reward perspective (stock price & dividends), Co-operative Bank is more attractive than ABSA Bank. However, I am anticipating this to change in the future. ABSA Bank Kenya has the probability of becoming a bigger and more attractive bank than Co-operative Bank. Based on the Chart, the share price of ABSA bank is worth looking at post-book closure on the 30th of April, 2025. If it is a dividend drive, Co-operative Bank is a better alternative.
NSEKE:ABSA
by EquityWhale
Penta, near resistance?Once one of the hottest stocks during the bull run... but that’s history now. From its all-time high of 6.740, it's down nearly 65%. Currently, the price is in the overbought zone and approaching a key resistance area. Despite the recent rebound, MACD remains below the zero line, suggesting the overall momentum still lacks strength. Should we keep an eye on it? Maybe, but not for entry at this stage. If you're in profit, consider securing some. Better to wait for a healthy setup than chase a tired rally. Disclaimer: This is not a buy or sell call. Just sharing for study and discussion purposes. Always do your own analysis before making any trading decisions.
MYX:PENTAShort
by DSELE99
SBUX Earnings📉 SBUX – Descending Flag Breakdown Confirmed The Selloff Structure is Set. The Next Leg May Be Swift. What we’re seeing here is a classic case of nested bearish structure across multiple timeframes: 🔻 Descending Flag (Daily & 4H) — Continuation patterns stacked on each other — Lower highs, lower lows compressing price toward collapse 📊 Volume Confirms — Volume tapering inside flag = exhaustion — Delta volume: –23.5% → distribution is real, not a fade ⚠️ No Bullish Divergence — Momentum remains bearish — No MACD support, no RSI rebound — nothing to slow the slide 🎯 Price Map $83.86 = current $64 = next major structure $59 → ultimate support test $53 → breakdown zone if earnings disappoint 🧠 Thesis: This isn’t a random dip — it’s a systematic unwind. Franchise closures, margin compression, and retail tightening are feeding a fundamental downgrade beneath a clean technical signal. I'm positioned for further breakdown. Earnings could be the trigger. And I don’t want the reversal. I want the flush. 🧱🦅📉 Let the structure do its job. #SBUX #ShortSetup #BearishFlag #BreakdownTrade #TradingViewAnalysis
NASDAQ:SBUXShort
by bcavin
1
MCX - Multi Commodity Exchange (Daily chart, NSE) - LongMCX - Multi Commodity Exchange (Daily chart, NSE) - Long Position; short-term research idea. Risk assessment: Medium {volume structure integrity & volatility risk} Risk/Reward ratio ~ 4.25 Current Market Price (CMP) ~ 5930 Entry limit ~ 5925 to 5775 (Avg. - 5850) on April 25, 2025 1.⁠ ⁠Target limit ~ 6201 (+6%; +351 points) 2.⁠ ⁠Target limit ~ 6700 (+14.53%; +850 points) Stop order limit ~ 5650 (-3.42%; -200 points) Disclaimer: Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks. All information presented in this group is strictly for reference and personal study purposes only and is not a recommendation and/or a solicitation to act upon under any interpretation of the letter. LEGEND: {curly brackets} = observation notes = important updates (parentheses) = information details ~ tilde/approximation = variable value -hyphen = fixed value
NSE:MCXLong
by VEDIMarketWatch
1