Furst clue is to find what is happening in the inside of the company as to what the dudes are doing. Watch which way they are moving. But, then again, they could be selling or buying thier stock options.
I read IBD, FT (Financial Times with a funny colour) every day for the past 19 years and read the Ups section (that's the earnings kwik review and find good stocks almost every day by applying 4 or 5 numbered requirements that have to be met) I Read Businessweek, Forbes Magazine every weekend. Read as much information with Canslim.com that has good earnings report daily. As you can tell read and read as much written information as possible and forget about the talking heads on the TV. Some times there are a couple of business programs on the morning Sunday shows. I usually tape the Wall street journal report because it is on at around 4 or 5:30 am. 10am show on ABC tv, 10:30am show on ABC tv and CBS market watch on CBS channel 2 at 11am all EST time zone. All are taped just incase I miss something that catches my eye.
With canslim and the Ibd numbers will always steer you in the direction of being a successful investor.
Bottom line Matty, it is your gut feelings about the products they sell and or produce. Start my looking at all the products you use in the home within a 6th degree of association. I.e. Kevin Bacon the actor. Pick an actor any actor and you will be within 6 steps of Kevin Bacon.
I would not be to concerned about layoffs as a requirement to scare you away. It would be very foolish for a company to whack 50 per cent of the staff. A business has to do what it has to do if the sales are not there in order to survive. People are just tools in a tool box and they could care less about you. Use your talents and through you away. Hence, you must not werk for the dolla but the inverse.
The Best one is Valueline summary index by photostatically copying pages I believe 25, 37 and 39 timeliness of one. This is a list of the top companys that Valueline believes in. The bigger book is for detailed information on the company. I think I mentioned that a few messages back. Every Friday or Saturday morning is time to go to the library with a bunch of dimes.
I am sure others will help in this question. And yet, I have brain leakage because of information overload. Again I hope some of the above mess can help. If you need more assistance, just ask.
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