This blog is about fundamental investing using the NAIC (now Better Investing) Stock Selection Guide which is considered long-term “GARP” investing: Growth at a Reasonable Price. The SSG is explained briefly in my first post and more fully in my January 20, 2008 post, “All About SSGs.” Click here if you want to learn more about SSGs.
NO investment advice is provided here and I urge everyone to do their own research. This is important to me as I believe strongly that it is empowering for people to do their own stock research and to make their own judgments.
If you like what you read, please leave a comment telling me concretely what you like or don’t like, what you agree or disagree with, and/or what you would done differently. The key word is “concretely” as a global or general comment doesn’t help much, but is still appreciated.
My blog used to be on Blooger.com which drove me nuts because it wasn’t user friendly with regard to tables, and I almost always use a table to compare my SSG’s judgments to two or more other SSGs. It was very easy to import my posts from Blogger, but I have yet to try posting a table here as of 6-18-08. Stay tuned…..
Addendum 3-1-09: I now have some 40 posts, most comparing three or more SSGs with the data set forth in a table. It is still very, very difficult to post a table and I spend way too much time having to reformat the cells in order to get the numbers to fit and look good.
I create my tables in Word as WordPress has no table-making feature. When I paste them in, the data usually doesn’t fit right, the “Word-cleaning” feature doesn’t work, and the Preview feature doesn’t help.
If anyone knows of a free web host with a table-making feature, please let me know. I’d leave in a flash as WordPress has no plans to add such a feature.
Addendum 9-25-09: I now have some 60 posts and have finally learned the secrets to posting a table here at WordPress: when I create the table offline in Word, I have to use the smallest font (8 point) AND use the space bar instead of the enter key to space within each cell of my table. Then, I can copy and paste to the Blog with a minimum of reformatting which used to take days (not hours). What drove me nuts is no longer a problem.
What I have not learned is how to generate more feedback: I get more spam than comments, and almost no one rates my posts on the easy to use mouse-over star rating at the top of each post and page. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
It’s a lot of work for me to research, write and format each post and, while I get a tally of views, I don’t know how many viewers read the entire post or most of it. Maybe some get bored and read just a little, or take a peak and read nothing. So, without more feedback, I’m considering ending this effort for something more rewarding. Any suggestions?
Thanks for visiting….
Armin
Thank you for the information. It is very useful. I’m having a problem following how you use the six sources to obtain long term estimates of earnings. Value Line provides a 3-5 year estimate. The others seem to only provide a one year earnings estimate. How do you obtain the long range estimates from these other data providers, Armin? Thank you in advance.
Hey Pete:
- I rely not just on 6 different EPS estimates, but on estimates from 6 different sources. I don’t mean different websites, but the source of each estimate is different. That allows me to learn which is out-of-whack and not in the ballpark.
- All 5 of the EPS estimates besides VL are for 5 years.
- The only estimate I pay for is from S&P which is part of the SSG data service from Better Investing. I do a lot of SSGs so it’s worth it to me. The features I like most about BI. in case you are not a member, are the monthly BI magazine, the monthly Online Stock Study and the BI data service (which costs extra).
- I try to provide enough info in my posts so you could find each estimate on your own. Check my last post, Zeroing-In on Zebra, and go to the different websites I mention to see if you can pin down where the 5 year estimates are located. Estimates can change, but they still should be the same or close to the same for Zebra. Let me know if you have any trouble.
- An easier way to get 4 of these estimates (all but VL & S&P) is to use the Research Links page at StockCentral.com which is a subscription site. Just type the ticker that you are interested in once, and you’ll get some 50 links that will take you directly to the page you want about that particular company.
Armin