Fundamental analysis

Security analysis that seeks to detect misvalued securities through an analysis of the firm's business prospects. Research often focuses on earnings, dividend prospects, expectations for future interest rates, and risk evaluation of the firm. Antithesis of technical analysis. In macroeconomic analysis, information such as interest rates, GNP, inflation, unemployment, and inventories is used to predict the direction of the economy, and therefore the stock market. In microeconomic analysis, information such as balance sheet, income statement, products, management, and other market items is used to forecast a company's imminent success or failure, and hence the future price action of the stock.

Fundamental Analysis

In making investment decisions, the analysis of the facts that affect a company's underlying value. Examples of factors considered in fundamental analysis include debt, cash flow, supply and demand for the company's products, and so forth. For instance, if a company does not have a sufficient supply of products, it will fail. Likewise, demand for the product must remain at a certain level in order for it to be successful. Fundamental analysts recommend buying stocks in companies with strong fundamentals because they are essential for long-term success and stability. Fundamental analysis contrasts with technical analysis, which considers primarily short-term indicators. See also: Value Investing.

fundamental analysis

Analysis of security values grounded in basic factors such as earnings, balance sheet variables, and management quality. Fundamental analysis attempts to determine the true value of a security, and, if the market price of the stock deviates from this value, to take advantage of the difference by acquiring or selling the stock. Fundamental analysis may involve investigating a firm's financial statements, visiting its managers, or examining how a particular industry is affected by changes in the economy. Compare technical analysis.