Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis [Paperback]

Michael C. Thomsett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2006 | Series: Getting Started in

If you've picked up this book, you probably recognize the value of fundamental analysis, but aren't sure you can master it. With Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis as your guide, you'll quickly become familiar with the key concepts and learn how to put them into action in the real world.

You'll gain important insights that can help you manage risk and make more informed investment decisions and learn from relevant illustrations, examples, and definitions. Written in a non-technical format that's easy to follow, Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis provides valuable coverage of:

• the audited statement.
• finding financial information online.
• the process of confirmation.
• balance sheet and income statement ratios.
• the P/E ratio and how to use it.
• how the combination of fundamental analysis with technical methods creates a powerful strategy.

More than an introduction to fundamental analysis, this book will help you use analytical tools in identifying risk levels, making valid and reliable comparisons, and picking stocks for your portfolio so you develop a successful and profitable investment program.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

An accessible introduction to FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS

GETTING STARTED IN FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS

If you've picked up this book, you probably recognize the value of fundamental analysis, but aren't sure that you can master it. With Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis as your guide, you'll quickly become familiar with the key concepts of this discipline and learn how to put them into action in the real world.

Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis contains important insights that can help you manage risk and make more informed investment decisions. Each chapter is filled with a variety of relevant illustrations, examples, and definitions that bring important concepts to life. Written in a non-technical format that's easy to follow, Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis provides valuable coverage of:

• The audited statement
• Finding financial information online
• The process of confirmation
• Balance sheet and income statement ratios
• The P/E ratio and how to use it
• How the combination of fundamental analysis with technical methods creates a powerful strategy

Straightforward and accessible, Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis is not just an introduction to a range of analytical tools collectively called fundamental analysis. It's designed to help you put those tools to work in identifying risk levels, making valid and reliable comparisons, and picking stocks for your portfolio. It is this activity—deciding which stocks to buy, how long to hold them, and when to sell—that lies at the center of a successful and profitable investment program.

About the Author

Michael C. Thomsett is a financial writer who has written more than sixty books on investing, real estate, business, and management topics. He is the author of several Wiley books, including Getting Started in Rental Income, J.K. Lasser's Real Estate Investing, and six editions of the bestselling Getting Started in Options. Prior to his writing career, Thomsett was a professional accountant and systems consultant.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471754463
• ISBN-13: 978-0471754466
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #626,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been writing professionally since 1978 and fulltime since 1984. Previously, I was an accountant.
From 1978 to 1984 I wrote part-time and also was a consultant in the financial services industry. Once I began writing fulltime, I began in the magazine journalism field as a freelancer. In 1985 and 1986 I wrote approximately 500 articles in business, trade and professional magazines. I then switched over to books exclusively and have written over 70 books. These include my own as well as ghost-written projects.
Today I like to work on multiple books at the same time, normally two or three projects. Being able to switch back and forth keeps the writing process fresh and interesting. I generally write from 7 a.m. until noon and spend afternoons on research.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice getting started book, June 30, 2009

By 

K. Anderson "andersox" (Aliso Viejo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis (Paperback)

I decided to learn about the stock market because I invest a portion of my paycheck in my company's stock. I've saved a couple grand through the program and want to decide whether to hold or sell.

For a total investing newbie, this book gave a great overview of fundamental analysis, technical analysis and the strengths and weaknesses of each. I came away with the tools I needed to begin comparing and analyzing potential stocks. In addition, it made me want to learn a bit more about technical analysis.

I used to think that analyzing prospective stocks was too difficult for me, now, I have the confidence I need to get started.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a lot of discussion of fundamental analysis, August 27, 2011

By 

David Irving (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis (Paperback)

For a book called "Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis", this book contains remarkably little material relating to the subject. It does do a good job discussing the potential pitfalls involved in reading a financial statement. However, it has very little practical advice on actually performing analysis. Overall, the book is poorly organized and poorly edited.

I got "Fire Your Stock Analyst!" by Harry Domash at the same time as this book, and found it much more informative.

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understand the statements and figures., November 7, 2007

By 

M. Shane G. Hanson (Perth ,WA ,Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis (Paperback)

This book is what it says. A guide to getting st.......
Goes thru account keeping practises used, price ratios, and all those other things fundamental analysts use to convince themselves of where a stocks price should be, based on their expectations and calculations.

This book covers the important and useful aspects of fund analy, however the author writes from the viewpoint of an "investor" not a "trader" and the section at the end of the last chapter really made me laugh with "buy low, sell high" and a few other things investors are always bagging traders about.

Overall I found the book very easy going, with review bubbles on each aspect as it was covered to reinforce it and I recommend it to anyone who wants to know about balance sheets,crooked accounting practices, profit, loss and sales tracking, price ratios and all the other guff up rampers are always crankin on about when they're wishing their BHP (buy , hold, pray) method to possible fruition.
Great book, great for future reference, glad I bought it.