Fundamental
Here’s a
simplified and more detailed explanation, tailored to help you understand the
terms better in a straightforward way.
Understanding Financial Terms in Simple Words
When we look
at a company's performance, we need to check some important numbers or
"fundamentals" to understand how it is doing. These numbers tell us
if the company is profitable, if it is growing, and how much risk is involved
in investing in it. Below, I’ll explain these terms one by one in an easy-to-understand
way.
1. Market Capitalization (Mkt Cap)
Market capitalization, or market cap, is the
total value of a company in the stock market. It is like asking, "How much
is this company worth right now in the market?"
How do we calculate it?
Take the price of one share and multiply it by
the total number of shares the company has.
For example:
- If a share
costs ₹100 and the company has 10 crore shares, the market cap will be ₹1,000
crore.
Why is this important?
Market cap tells us if a company is big or
small. Companies are usually divided into three groups
: - Large-cap companies: These are big, stable companies
worth ₹20,000 crore or more. They are less risky.
- Mid-cap companies: These are medium-sized companies,
worth between ₹5,000 crore and ₹20,000 crore. They have more growth potential
but are a bit risky.
-
Small-cap companies:
These are smaller companies worth less than ₹5,000 crore. They can grow fast
but are the riskiest.
So, by looking at the market cap, you know if
you are investing in a big, stable company or a smaller, riskier one.
2. Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio)
The P/E
ratio shows how much money investors are paying for each rupee of profit a
company makes.
How do we
calculate it?
Divide the current price of one share by the
company’s earnings per share (EPS).
For
example:
- If a share
costs ₹50 and the EPS is ₹5, then the P/E ratio is 10. This means investors are
paying ₹10 for every ₹1 the company earns.
What does it tell us?
- If the P/E ratio is high, it means the
stock is expensive compared to its earnings. Investors might expect the
company to grow in the future.
- If the P/E ratio is low, the stock might
be cheap, or the company might not have much growth potential.
The P/E
ratio helps us know if a stock is overpriced or underpriced compared to how
much the company earns.
3. Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B Ratio)
The P/B
ratio compares the price of a stock to the company’s book value. The book value
is the value of all the company’s assets (like buildings, money, and machinery)
minus its liabilities (like loans and debts).
How do we calculate it?
Divide the share price by the book value per
share.
For
example:
- If the book value per share is ₹25 and the
share price is ₹50, the P/B ratio is 2. This means investors are paying twice
what the company’s net worth is.
What does it tell us? –
A high P/B
ratio means investors believe the company’s assets will become more valuable in
the future.
- A low P/B
ratio might mean the company is undervalued, or it could be in trouble.
4. Industry P/E
The industry
P/E is the average P/E ratio of all the companies in a particular sector or
industry.
Why is it important?
It helps you compare a company to its
competitors. For example:
- If the industry P/E is 30, and a company’s
P/E is 50, the company might be overvalued.
- But if the
company grows faster than others, a higher P/E might be fine.
It gives
context to the company’s valuation.
5. Debt-to-Equity Ratio
The debt-to-equity ratio shows how much money
the company has borrowed (debt) compared to how much money it has from its
shareholders (equity).
How do we calculate it?
Divide the total debt by the shareholders’
equity.
For example: - If a company has ₹27 crore in debt and ₹100 crore in equity, the
debt-to-equity ratio is 0.27.
What does it tell us?
- A low debt-to-equity ratio (e.g.,
below 0.5) means the company is using less borrowed money and is safer.
- A high
debt-to-equity ratio
(e.g., above 1) means the company relies heavily on loans, which can be risky.
Investors like companies with a low
debt-to-equity ratio because they are more stable.
6. Return on Equity (ROE)
ROE measures how much profit a company makes with the money that
shareholders have invested. It shows how well the company uses shareholders’
money.
How do we calculate it?
Divide the company’s net profit by its
shareholders’ equity, then multiply by 100.
For example:
- If a
company earns ₹29 crore in profit and has ₹100 crore in equity, the ROE is 29%.
What does it mean?
- A high ROE (e.g., above 15%) means
the company is good at making profits from shareholders’ money.
- A low ROE means the company is not
using its money efficiently.
ROE is a key indicator of profitability.
7. Earnings Per Share (EPS)
EPS tells us
how much profit the company makes for each share.
How do we
calculate it?
Divide the company’s total profit by the
number of shares.
For example:
- If the company earns ₹100 crore and has 10
crore shares, the EPS is ₹10.
Why is it important?
A higher EPS means the company is more
profitable and gives better returns to its shareholders. It’s a good measure of
how much a company is earning.
8. Dividend Yield (Div Yield)
Dividend yield shows how much return you get from
dividends compared to the current share price.
How do we
calculate it?
Divide the annual dividend per share by the
current share price, then multiply by 100.
For example:
- If the annual dividend is ₹2 per share and
the share price is ₹100, the dividend yield is 2%.
What does
it mean?
- A high
dividend yield means the company pays good dividends, which is great for
investors who want steady income.
- A low dividend yield means the
company pays little in dividends, but it might be reinvesting its profits
for future growth.
9. Book Value
Book value
shows the company’s net worth per share. It is the value of everything the
company owns (assets) minus everything it owes (liabilities), divided by the
number of shares.
How do we
calculate it?
Book Value =
(Total Assets - Total Liabilities) ÷ Total Shares
For example:
- If a company has ₹1,000 crore in assets and
₹500 crore in liabilities, and it has 20 crore shares, the book value per share
is ₹25.
What does
it tell us?
If the book
value is much lower than the stock price, the stock might be overvalued. Book
value helps investors understand if a company is worth its current stock price.
10. Face Value
The face value is the original value of a
share, set when the company issues it. It does not change and is not the same
as the market price.
For example:
- A share may have a face value of ₹1 but
trade in the market at ₹500.
Why is it
important?
Dividends are often declared as a percentage
of the face value. For example, a 50% dividend on a ₹1 face value share means a
dividend of ₹0.50 per share.
Conclusion
By understanding these terms, you can make
better investment decisions. Let’s summarize: - Market cap tells you the
company’s size and market value. - P/E ratio shows how expensive or cheap the
stock is compared to its earnings. - P/B ratio compares the stock price to the
company’s assets. - Industry P/E helps you compare the company to its
competitors. - Debt-to-equity ratio tells you how much risk is in the company’s
finances. - ROE shows how efficiently the company makes profits with
shareholders’ money. - EPS tells you the profit per share. - Dividend yield
tells you how much return you get from dividends. - Book value shows the
company’s net worth. - Face value is the original value of the share. These
terms together give you a complete picture of a company’s health,
profitability, and potential risks. By combining these metrics, you can decide
whether a stock is worth buying or not!