Before investing in a stock, it is important to understand it qualitatively and have a solid understanding of what factors contribute to the financial data it yields. Financial data alone is almost never enough. It is important to know the underlying causes of the financial data churned out by the company.
To enable you to understand the qualitative factors that define your
investment strategy
for a stock, we are introducing a new feature that is now a new part of your Subscriber access -
The Company Tags.
What are Company Tags?
Company Tags seek to group companies having similar fundamental characteristics and potential investment strategies by investors. These tags are inspired by
–
that companies can be categorized in this manner. The categories are:
Cyclical
The fortunes of cyclical companies tend to be linked with economic cycles. If the economy
does well, the performance of these companies - and that of their stock prices - goes up. Mining and power sectors have cyclical companies that do well when the economy can afford them large contracts.
NMDC
Sesa Goa
are examples of cyclical companies.
In one sense,
can be
risky to invest in. Catching a cyclical company at the wrong
part of the cycle means it could be years before you realise any returns. Timing is critical here and you need to look for signs that the downward cycle is reversing to invest in them.
Stalwart
Stalwarts are big companies that are capable of generating good profits.
They typically tend to have a portfolio of strong brands - diversified for different markets. In case one
brand fizzles out, a stalwart is still capable of generating solid results.
ITC
&
Nestle
are typical stalwarts.
Of course, if a stalwart gives you a windfall return not in keeping with its characteristic
returns, it might be time to sell the stock to protect yourself from a correction in its price.
Fast Grower
Fast Grower stocks
are what every investor is hunting for. Which company is likely to grow multi-fold in the next few years? Growth stocks lie in
emerging sectors
as the entire sector is in a growth phase and has enough steam to pull the stocks along. Think
IT and
Pharma - sectors which still haven't matured yet. Growth stocks include
DiviS Labs
&
KPIT Technologies.
When looking for Fast Growers,
always look for debt-free balance sheets and steady profit growth. Also, remember not to overpay for growth.
Value
Value stocks
are another popular group of stocks among fundamental investors.
Why? Because their
market cap is
lower than the
value of their assets. This makes
them bargain-buys for a savvy investor. For e.g.
SAIL
and
Neyveli Lignite
could qualify
as Value stocks.
While looking for value stocks, it is important to assess the total asset value
correctly. All assets may not be tangible that could jeopardise your calculations.
Slow Grower
Slow Growers
tend to be companies that are both
incapable of rapid
expansion and
unable to milk a growth sector. Think
HUL
and
L&T
.
One way of identifying a Slow Grower is if the company pays
high dividends
. Since its profits are not reinvested for growth, they tend to return them to investors by
paying them high dividends.
Question Mark
The
Question Mark
tag is assigned to companies that seem to have lost their
way or are on the verge of losing their way. These companies may have been Fast Growers/Slow Growers at some point but
have seen
questionable value creation over the past few periods and face an
uncertain
future.
Tata Steel
is an example of a 'Question Mark' company.
Question Marks are typically
stocks to avoid
unless they show strong signs of finding a way out.
Turnaround
These are the most interesting and sought-after stocks. A turnaround company is one which
has been battered on all fronts but is capable of making a dramatic comeback. Think of companies which are
being spun off or are undergoing restructuring activities.
Wockhardt
is
an example of a company which managed to turnaround.
Of course, turnarounds are rare. More often than not, in looking for a turnaround, you
might end up with a sinking ship. Always proceed with caution on this one!
The Company Tag for a company will be visible on its Decision-Maker. A sample Decision-Maker with a Company Tag is given below