MyStockProspector.com

Data Groups

Data groups are defined to contain items that pertain to that group. These collections make it easier for advanced users to find and use specific items for their reports.

The following groups are available:

1. Other Items describe the company and data that are normally not used for screening. These items cannot be assigned weights and are designated with N/A. Some items in this group are updated when using the price updating service.

2. Growth Items deal with anything that has a growth component, such as revenue, EPS, dividends, etc. For several items the growth is calculated over different length periods. You could use these periods to determine improvement/deterioration of growth by comparing a longer growth period to a shorter growth period.

3. Value Items in some form include the current price in their calculation. Typical items are PE, relative value, etc.

4. Quality Items measure management's achievements. These include profitability, ROE (return on equity) and their trends, as well as the consistency of growth items (R2).

5. Safety Items help determine a company's stability. Items that describe the size of the company, financial liquidity, and volatility fall into this group.

6. Trend Items are derived from the most recent data and are compared to older data. This is done for revenue, EPS, and price and the comparison is made to the company's own trend, to companies in the industry, and to all the companies in the database.

7. Rank Items are included with the trend group. Rank items compare actual recent achievements with averages for the same industry and the database. These indicate how a company is performing in relation to others.

8. Projection Items are based on information included in the data, including analysts' estimates.

9. Proxy Items are computer calculations simulating BetterInvesting methods for items such as upside/downside ratio, buy/sell zones, total return etc. These items should be used carefully as they may not necessarily be appropriate. Normally, these items are derived from a process where the investor imparts an understanding. The computer calculations have no similar capability.

Other Items

1	Company Name	Company name.
2	Symbol	Trading or ticker symbol.
3	Exchange	Trading exchange.
4	Industry	This is the industry name. To screen by this use [Industry] = and select a name from the list provided.
5	Sector	This is the sector name. To screen by this use [Sector] = and select a name from the list provided.
6	SIC No	Standard Industrial Classification number. A four-digit code: first 2 indicate industry group, second 2 indicate specific industry. As 'Industry' except that it deals with a code.
7	Date Info	Date when data was generated.
8	Last Quarter Date	Date of the last reported quarter in the data.
9	Price Last Updated	Typically the date of the last share price update, 'Current Price', or when data was first generated.
10	Current Price	Current share price for the date indicated in 'Date Info.'
11	52W Hi Price	Highest share price reached during the last 52 weeks.
12	52W Low Price	Lowest share price during the past 52 weeks.
13	Last Full Yr	Last year of data, the fiscal year. This is the year of the last full year of data.
14	Num Yrs of Data	Number of years of sales data available for the company.
15	Current EPS	Current earnings per share, the total of last 4 quarters of reported earnings.
16	Current Div	Current dividend.
17	Inside Ownership	Percent ownership by directors and management of the company.
18	Institutional Holdings	Percent ownership by pension and mutual funds and professional managers.
19	ADR	American Depository Receipt (ADR) is a stock that trades in the United States but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation.

Growth Items

Growth items are calculated from data using a least squares regression formula based on a logarithmic function. This method is used because it most closely defines the compounded growth typical of growing companies.

The limitation of this calculation occurs for companies that have unusual data, i.e. negative EPS in one or more years. In these situations the growth calculation can provide misleading answers. To ensure a proper growth figure, check the corresponding R2 (see Quality Group items).

20	Hist 10Yr Rev Gr	Historical 10-year growth for revenues. Calculation uses the yearly data and a least-squares calculation to determine past growth. Long term growth rate. Use 'Rev R2 10Yr' to indicate consistency in results.
21	Hist 5Yr Rev Gr	Historical 5-year revenue growth. Use with 'Hist 10Yr Rev Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing). May also be used with 'Rev R2 5Yr' to indicate consistency in results.
22	Hist 3Yr Rev Gr	Historical 3-year revenue growth. Use with Items 'Hist 10Yr Rev Gr', 'Hist 5Yr Rev Gr', and 'Hist 1Yr Rev Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing). May also be used with 'Rev R2 3Yr' to indicate consistency in results.
23	Hist 1Yr Rev Gr	Historical 1-year revenue growth. Use with Items 'Hist 10Yr Rev Gr', 'Hist 5Yr Rev Gr', and 'Hist 3Yr Rev Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing).
24	Last 4Q Rev Gr	Latest 4 quarters revenue growth. Growth of moving 4 quarter revenues compared to the similar period a year earlier. Current growth rate. Compare this with the last 1 or 3 year growth to determine consistency.
25	Q Rev Gr	Quarterly revenue growth. Growth of quarterly revenues compared to the same period a year earlier. Current growth rate. Compare this with the last 1 or 3 year growth to determine consistency.
26	Hist 10Yr EPS Gr	Historical 10-year growth for EPS. Uses a least-squares calculation to determine EPS growth. Long term growth rate. Use 'EPS R2 10yr' to indicate consistency in results.
27	Hist 5Yr EPS Gr	Historical 5-year growth for EPS. Use with 'Hist 10Yr EPS Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing). May also be used with 'EPS R2 5Yr' to indicate consistency in results.
28	Hist 3Yr EPS Gr	Historical 3-year EPS growth. Use with 'Hist 10Yr EPS Gr' and 'Hist 5Yr EPS Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing). May also be used with 'EPS R2 3Yr' to indicate consistency in results.
29	Hist 1Yr EPS Gr	Historical 1-year EPS growth. Use with 'Hist 10Yr EPS Gr', 'Hist 5Yr EPS Gr' and 'Hist 3Yr EPS Gr' to indicate trend of growth (increasing or decreasing).
30	Last 4Q EPS Gr	Latest 4 quarters EPS growth. Growth of moving yearly EPS compared to the same period a year earlier. Current growth rate. Compare this with the last 1 or 3 year growth to determine consistency.
31	Q EPS Gr	Growth of quarterly EPS compared to the same period a year earlier. Current growth. Compare this with the last 1 or 3 year growth to determine consistency.
32	Hist 5Yr Price Gr	Price growth based on Monthly data.
33	Hist 3Yr Price Gr	Price growth based on Monthly data.
34	Hist 1Yr Price Gr	Price growth based on Monthly data.
35	Div Gr	Growth in dividends for the number of years of data available. For those interested in income from investments.
36	Book Value Gr	Book value per share growth (common equity / number of shares). Growth in book value for the number of years available. Regulated industries (utilities) pay out a fixed amount based on their assets. Book Value is an indication of assets.
37	Cash Flow Gr	Growth in cash flow for number of years of data available. Can be used to confirm EPS growth. In some industries (resources, cable, etc.) cash flow is a better indicator than EPS.
38	Implied Gr	Formula: Avg 5Yr ROE * (1 – Div Payout). The growth rate of retained earnings. An indication of future growth can be made from implied growth.
39	Hist Share Gr	Growth in average share price for the number of years available, based on yearly data. Comparing this to EPS growth, can suggest whether PE is expanding or contracting. This can indicate whether a stock is getting overpriced.

Value Items

Value is dictated by the current price of the stock. Stock prices can vary substantially over relatively short periods of time. Stock price affects 29 items in the MyStockProspector database.

40	Avg 5Yr Low PE	Average low PE for last 5 years. Calculated from yearly information from data.
41	Avg 5Yr High PE	Average high PE for last 5 years. Calculated from yearly information from data.
42	Avg PE	Formula: (Avg 5Yr High PE + Avg 5Yr low PE) / 2. Average Price/Earnings ration for the last 5 years.
43	Current PE	Current Price/Earnings ratio as available from data, based on trailing twelve months' EPS.
44	PE / Hist EPS Gr	Current PE divided by Historical EPS growth. As provided in data or is equal to: Current PE / Hist 10Yr EPS Gr. (Peter Lynch's formula).
45	PE / Proj EPS Gr	Similar to 'PE / Hist EPS Gr' but using projected EPS. Commonly referred to as the PEG Ratio.
46	Rel Value	Relative value. Formula: Current PE / Avg PE. An indication of value based on past PE valuation.
47	% From 52W Low	Compares current price to 52 week low price. Formula: Current Price - 52W Low Price) / 52W Low Price (Will always be <= 0). Price being near the 52 week low suggests a negative trend.
48	% From 52W Hi	Compares current price to 52 week high price. Formula: Current Price - 52W Hi Price) / 52W Hi Price (Will always be <= 0). Price being close to the 52 week high suggests a positive trend. This may show the company to be overpriced.
49	Price / Sales	Current price divided by the latest sales per share figure. An indication of value for fast growing companies - not susceptible to accounting methods (EPS) and depreciation (BookVl).
50	Price / Cash Flow	Price to cash flow per share. Current price divided by the latest reported cash flow figure. Review with 'Cash Flow Gr.'
51	Price / Book Value	Current price divided by latest reported book value (per share). Review with 'Book Value Gr.'
52	PE / Avg ROE	Price of Profitability. Formula: Current PE / Avg 5Yr ROE. Values less than 1 indicate good value.
53	CashFlow / Share	Cash flow per share. As provided by data.
54	Cur Div Yield	Current dividend yield. For those interested in income from their investment.
55	Avg Div Yield	Historical average dividend yield. Calculated using the last 5 years' annual data.
56	Tax Rate	Average 5 year tax rate. Assess government's effect on profits.
57	Payback	The number of years for yearly accumulated EPS to equal current price. Generally between 6 and 10, the lower the better. However, be suspicious of very low numbers.

Quality Items

58	Rev R2 10Yr	Revenue consistency. R2 (or R squared) is the coefficient of correlation from the calculation of 'Hist 10Yr Rev Gr'. Varies from 1 to 0 where 1 is the most consistent and desirable.
59	Rev R2 5Yr	Revenue consistency over the last 5 years.
60	Rev R2 3Yr	Revenue consistency over the last 3 years.
61	EPS R2 10yr	EPS consistency. R2 (or R squared) is the coefficient of correlation from the calculation of 'Hist 10Yr EPS Gr.' Varies from 1 to 0 where 1 is the 'most consistent and desirable.'
62	EPS R2 5yr	EPS consistency over the last 5 years.
63	EPS R2 3yr	EPS consistency over the last 3 years.
64	Dividend R2 10Yr	Dividend consistency over the last 10 years.
65	Com Equity R2 10Yr	Common equity consistency over the last 10 years.
66	Avg 5Yr ROE	Average 5-year ROE. Simple average calculated from data. Return on Common Equity. See 'Trend ROE.'
67	Avg 5Yr PTI	5-year Average % Pre-Tax Income on Sales( i.e. profitability). Simple average calculated from data. See 'Trend PTI.'
68	Trend ROE	Trend of return on common equity. Derived by reviewing the last 2 years' ROE figures vs. the 5-year average. How well does management use assets (equity)? Item 2B in the SSG. Best to worst indicators are ++, +, -+, Even, +-, -, --.
69	Trend PTI	Trend of % Pre-Tax Income on Sales. Derived by reviewing the last 2 years' PTI figures vs. the 5-year average. Profitability will vary for each industry. Item 2A in the Stock Selection Guide. Best to worst indicators are ++, +, -+, Even, +-, -, --.
70	ROE Rating	Numerical figure derived from 'Trend ROE.' The numerical equivalent of 'Trend ROE', which varies from 6 to 0, where ++ = 6 and -- = 0.
71	PTI Rating	Numerical figure derived from 'Trend PTI.' The numerical equivalent of 'Trend PTI', which varies from 6 to 0, where ++ = 6 and -- = 0.
72	Inventory Turnover	Based on yearly sales and the latest inventory.

Safety Items

73	Sales	Sales (revenues) in millions for the most recently-completed fiscal year, used as an indication of company size.
74	Assets - Millions	Current assets. Indicates company size by measuring its assets.
75	Captlztion - Millions	Capitalization = Number of shares * current price. Indication of the company size by market valuation.
76	No Shares - Millions	Number of shares. Measure of possible liquidity of company.
77	Quality Rating	Quality rating from Take Stock. Varies from 0 to 10, with 10 being the best.
78	Div Payout	Dividend payout ratio. 5 yr average of ratio for dividends / EPS. An indicator of safety of dividends paid. For most industries look for 60% or less. Exceptions are utilities.
79	Debt / Equity	Debt to equity ratio. Measure of long term debt for company. For most industries 30% is acceptable. Utilities typically have high ratios.
80	Avg Debt / Equity	Average debt to equity over the last 5 years.
81	Debt / Capital	As 'Debt / Equity', except using the working capital.
82	Debt / Equity Rating	Numerical figure derived from trend of 'Debt / Equity.' The numerical equivalent of 'Debt / Equity', which varies from 6 to 0, where ++ = 6 and -- = 0. For this rating, 4 or lower is best.
83	Trend Debt / Equity	Trend of debt to equity. Derived by reviewing the last 2 years' figures vs. the 5-year average. Item 2C in the SA+ SSG. Indicators are ++, +, -+, Even, +-, -, --, where + indicates an increase in debt to equity.
84	Beta	Measure of price volatility in relation to the market. Could be misleading for fast-growing companies.
85	Int Coverage	Interest coverage. The ratio of pre-tax income to interest paid on all debt. A ratio of 3 or larger is good.
86	Current Ratio	Current ratio. Current assets / current liabilities. Measure of liquidity. Ratios of 2 or higher are generally considered good.
87	Quick Ratio	Cash / current liabilities. Measure of liquidity which excludes receivables: ratio of 1 or higher is good. Some industries which deal in cash typically have lower ratios.
88	Price Variance	Statistical variation of yearly prices over the past 10 years.

Proxy Items

The user is cautioned that proxy items are calculated from formulas and that they are not to be construed as substitutes for appropriate judgment based on knowledge of the company. Normally, judgment is applied based on personal interpretation of data that validates proxy items. No such validation is made or implied within MyStockProspector.

89	Proxy Hi Pr	Expected high price 5 years in the future.
90	Proxy Low Pr	Projected low price over the next 5 years based on a statistical assessment of price variation over the previous 5 years.
91	Buy Below	Lowest third of the price range based on equal (33%/33%/33%) divisions between Proxy Hi Pr and Proxy Low Pr.
92	Sell Above	Highest third of the price range based on equal (33%/33%/33%) divisions between Proxy Hi Pr and Proxy Low Pr.
93	Price in Zone	The % that the 'Current Price' is above the 'Proxy Low Pr.' Zero is at the 'Proxy Low Pr.' 100% is at the 'Proxy Hi Pr.'
94	Price App	Compounded (annualized) appreciation from 'Current Price' to the 'Proxy Hi Pr.'
95	U/D Ratio	Upside/Downside Ratio , the ratio between the 'Current Price' and the 'Proxy Hi Pr.'
96	Total Return	Compounded (annualized) total return that includes price appreciation and portion contributed from dividends.

Trend and Rank Items

As with Growth Group items, Rank Items use growth calculation. As a result you are cautioned to assess Trends along with the corresponding R2 items in the Quality Group.

97	Rev Trend	Difference in % revenue change of last 4 quarters growth and the weighted growth for the company.
98	Rev Trend - Indus	Compares 'Rev Trend' of the company to the trends of the industry.
99	Rev Trend - DB	Compares 'Rev Trend' of the company to the trends of the database.
100	Rev Rank - Indus	Compares short term revenue growth to the average short term growth of the industry.
101	Rev Rank - DB	Compares short term growth to the average short term growth of the database.
102	EPS Trend	Difference in % change EPS (last 4 quarters) to weighted growth for the company.
103	EPS Trend – Indus	Compares 'EPS Trend' of the company to the trends of the industry.
104	EPS Trend – DB	Compares 'EPS Trend' of the company to the trends of the database.
105	EPS Rank - Indus	Compares short term EPS growth to the average short term growth of the industry.
106	EPS Rank - DB	Compares short term growth to the average short term growth of the database.
107	Price Trend	Difference in % price change (last 12 months) in comparison to the 5 year change.
108	Price Trend - Indus	Compares 'Price Trend' of the company to the trends of the industry.
109	Price Trend - DB	Compares 'Price Trend' of the company to the trends of the database.
110	Price Rank - Indus	Compares short term price changes to the average short term changes of the industry.
111	Price Rank - DB	Compares short term changes to the average short term changes of the database.

Projection Items

Projection items are flagged to help the user determine the source of the data. Use Items 116 and 117 to ascertain this source. Potentially, if the earnings growth is based on calculations, the figures could be misleading. Review both the appropriate growth and R2 items when using projected items.

112	Proj 1 Yr EPS Gr	Projected EPS growth rate calculated from '1Yr Proj EPS.'
113	Proj 5 Yr EPS Gr	Projected EPS growth rate expected over the next 5 years. See '5Yr Proj EPS.'
114	1Yr Proj EPS	Estimated EPS for current fiscal year EPS. See 'Proj 1 Yr EPS Gr.'
115	5Yr Proj EPS	Estimated EPS extrapolated to calculate EPS 5 years in the future. Formula: 1Yr Proj EPS * ( 1 + Proj 5 Yr EPS Gr) ^ 4. See 'Proj 5 Yr EPS Gr.'
116	EPS Est Flag 1Yr	If True, it indicates that '1Yr Proj EPS' was provided from the data provider. If False, it was calculated by MyStockProspector based on internal formula.
117	EPS Est Flag 5Yr	If True, it indicates that 'Proj 5 Yr EPS Gr' was provided from the data provider. If False, it was calculated by MyStockProspector based on internal formula.