The Future of Investing



Strategy No. 4:
Look for Value Shares

Some shares represent better value than others do and investing in individual shares when their shares fall below what are likely to be sustainable valuations. For newcomers to the market, it may seem hard to identify these shares. However, taking a little time to understand how companies are valued can pay off. Studying the price to earnings ratio will enable you to judge which shares represent value and which ones are overpriced. The price to earnings ratio indicates the number of times the price covers the earnings of the share. This ratio is listed in the daily newspapers along side the share's price.

A company with a low price to earnings ratio can be considered a better value stock than a company with a high price to earnings ratio. Over time, companies with low price to earnings ratios have consistently outperformed those with high price to earnings ratios.

One thing to remember is that the price to earnings ratio is calculated on a company’s current financial situation. One company may have a higher price to earnings ratio than another but this could be due to an unusual recent situation. Similarly, the other company may have had an unexpected windfall that is unlikely to occur again.

So, before making a decision based solely on price to earnings ratios, it would be advisable to check the price to earnings ratios histories of the relevant companies.

Next: Buy Blue Chip Stocks to Hold in the Long Term

  

  

© Copyright 2004 Paritech Pty Ltd