WHEELING Newspapers, business news shows and the Internet are all helpful resources that can help you gather data on publicly-traded companies. Another important source lies in the research reports written by analysts who make a living following various companies and reporting on their financial activities. However, if you’re not familiar with these reports, at first glance it may appear that they’re written in another language.

A few of the terms you’ll come across are defined below. Remember that no one financial measure will give you enough information to decide on a company’s investment value.

Market Capitalization The total market value of the company, this figure is commonly referred to as market “cap” and is calculated by multiplying the stock price by the number of shares outstanding. This figure is often used to segment stocks when looking to build or diversify a portfolio. Generally speaking, companies with a market capitalization greater than $10 billion are often referred to as “large cap.” Companies in the $2 billion to $10 billion range are considered “mid-cap,” and those with capitalization of less than $2 billion are known as “small-cap.”

Float The total number of shares available for trading divided by the total shares outstanding lets you know what percentage of a company’s stock is not held by insiders. The stock price of shares with a low float may be more volatile, particularly when stocks have few shares outstanding or are thinly traded, and they also may be subject to sharp price swings if large trades hit the market.

Earnings per share (EPS) Taking the annual net income and dividing by the average common shares outstanding gives you the earnings per share. EPS should also be considered together with the stocks price, or compared with prior years’ EPS and future EPS to estimate what the rate of earnings growth might be going forward. EPS are normally reported on a diluted basis, which takes into consideration potential ownership claims such as bonds that are convertible into stock.

Price/Earnings ratio (P/E) The stock’s market price divided by its EPS, this ratio is one of the most widely known measures. The P/E ratio shows how much you have to pay for $1 in earnings. A P/E multiple alone doesn’t have much meaning; it needs to be compared with something, such as the P/E of the broad market, the P/E of competitors or the company’s own P/E from prior years.

Dividend Yield This is an important figure for investors who want or need current income, and is found by dividing the annual dividend by the current stock price. Investors with current income as an objective can compare the dividend yield and the prospects of future dividend increases with the income returns available from alternative investments.

These are just a few of the terms you may find in a research report. Hopefully we’ve given you a good idea of where to start, but there’s still plenty of information you can glean from research reports. Talk with a Financial Advisor about receiving copies of these reports, and to discuss how stocks may fit into your overall portfolio.

Heidi Koler is a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. She holds her Series 7, and 66 registrations and Life, Health and Annuities Licenses. She may be contacted at 304-232-2550 or heidi.koler@wellsfargoadvisors.com for questions. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member NYSE & SIPC.