Understanding Fundamental Analysis
What is Fundamental Analysis?
Fundamental analysis evaluates securities by examining economic, financial, and other qualitative and quantitative factors. The goal is to determine an asset’s intrinsic value and whether it’s overvalued or undervalued at current market prices. This approach looks at both the overall economy and the specific asset’s underlying factors.
Key Economic Indicators
Growth Indicators
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
- Industrial Production
- Retail Sales
- Consumer Spending
- Business Investment
Employment Data
- Non-Farm Payrolls
- Unemployment Rate
- Weekly Jobless Claims
- Labor Force Participation
- Average Hourly Earnings
Inflation Measures
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Producer Price Index (PPI)
- Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE)
- Core Inflation Rates
Company Analysis
Financial Statements
- Balance Sheet: Assets, liabilities, equity
- Income Statement: Revenue, expenses, profit
- Cash Flow Statement: Operating, investing, financing activities
- Statement of Changes in Equity
Key Financial Ratios
- Profitability: ROE, ROA, Profit Margins
- Valuation: P/E, P/B, PEG Ratio
- Liquidity: Current Ratio, Quick Ratio
- Efficiency: Asset Turnover, Inventory Turnover
- Leverage: Debt/Equity, Interest Coverage
Industry Analysis
Sector Evaluation
- Competitive landscape
- Market share
- Growth potential
- Regulatory environment
- Technology impact
Industry Life Cycle
- Introduction: New markets/products
- Growth: Rapid expansion
- Maturity: Stable markets
- Decline: Falling demand
Market Analysis Tools
Economic Calendars
- Upcoming economic releases
- Central bank meetings
- Government reports
- Corporate earnings dates
Research Resources
- Company filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Earnings reports
- Analyst reports
- Industry publications
- Government data
Practical Application
Analysis Process
- Start with economic conditions
- Analyze industry trends
- Evaluate company specifics
- Compare with competitors
- Make investment decision
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overlooking economic cycles
- Ignoring industry trends
- Over-relying on ratios
- Missing qualitative factors
- Not considering timing
Investment Integration
Combining with Technical Analysis
- Use fundamentals for direction
- Technicals for timing
- Confirm trends with both
- Identify divergences
- Manage risk
Long-term vs Short-term
Long-term
- Focus on company growth
- Industry position
- Competitive advantages
Short-term
- Economic data impact
- Earnings releases
- News events
Additional Resources
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
- SEC EDGAR Database
- Financial news sources
- Company investor relations
- Industry research reports