Stock Market for Beginners Blog

Seeking Alpha Certified

The Stock Market for Beginners Blog is my mini-journal about my investing journey. It keeps you informed on following:

• new web pages about stock analysis, stock research, stock screen, or new investing basics

• other postings or news about stock investing in India (like the latest wealth creation research!)

• some of our special learnings/ past (mis)adventures that you might otherwise miss!

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Enjoy... hope you find this as informative and enjoyable as I have, putting this up! If you like my blog, please vote for it below

Finance Top Blogs

Relaxo Footwear! Great brand pull

Relaxo Footwear Management speaks candidly about the strengths of the business and the challenges ahead. Read the Management Interview by ValuePickr.

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Stock Screener tools and tips HQ

Stock Screener tips to create screens that make practical sense. Variety of proven screens - O'Shaughnessy, T. Rowe Price, Geraldine Weiss, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch, Cash Rich, Low PE, High Yield.

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Quality Small Cap India companies?

Quality Small Cap Stocks. You might have wondered how one can research such stock ideas in India stock market? Check out how ValuePickr stock screener shortlists quality small cap Indian companies.

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Geraldine Weiss Stock Screen - uncovering high-quality, undervalued stocks

Geraldine Weiss stock screen marries a conservative, blue-chip investment style with a value approach, using dividend yield as a guide to value.

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Manjushree Management Call | 30 Jan 2010 | In-depth Stock Research | Analysis

Manjushree Technopack is a leader in the PET bottling industry. Sales tripled in last 5 years while EPS went up 8 times. Some questions to Manjushree Management to understand the business better.

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Manjushree Technopack | A promising micro cap stock

Manjushree Technopack stands tall in the Indian plastics packaging industry. Marquee clients, superior margins & returns and a clean balance sheet. Worthy of your attention!

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Understanding Free cash flow (FCF)

Companies with high Free Cash Flow (FCF) coupled with high RoEs, this is the sweet spot - excess cash and the ability to earn a high return on it. Learn how to use FCF in your stock analysis.

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Market Entry Exit Strategy | Statistically informed look at CNX NIFTY PE levels

A market entry exit strategy based on a statistically informed look at valuations! The Nifty traded in a PE range between 10 and 28+ for last 10 years. Today, Nifty PE is over 22. Time for caution?

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Opto Circuits Management Call | 24 Sep 2009 | 10 more questions

Opto Circuits Management Call, Sep 24 2009. Why Opto's competitive advantage is sustainable? Why the recent equity dilution is EPS accretive? New developments and other strategic initiatives.

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Stock Market Terms | Stock Market Glossary

Useful resource page for stock market terms. Learn more on how you can practically use these stock terms to evaluate and analyse companies on a range of useful metrics.

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Growth Stocks Screen | Creating an effective growth stock screen

Growth Stocks screen looks to identify businesses with high-quality, sustainable growth -firms growing faster than the economy, enjoying above-average and increasing growth for a number of years

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HDFC Bank |Stock Research |1QFY10 update

HDFC Bank continues to perform solidly. The FY09 and the recent June FY10 quarter results firmly reinforce its reputation. High RoE and RoAs and a NIM consistently over 4% set it apart.

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ICICI Bank | Stock Research |1QFY10 update

ICICI Bank. The Slide continues even as it is reportedly trying to change tack –shunning aggressive growth to increasing CASA deposits to paying attention to NPAs. Not much is working, though!

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Growth Mindset or luck: what makes people rich?

Growth Mindset guys believe basic abilities are developed through dedication & hard work; brains & talent are just the starting point. Creating a love of learning & resilience-essentials for success.

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Stock Market Crash 2008 | Have we absorbed the lessions?

Stock market Crash lessons – have we absorbed? willingness to ask questions, being skeptical, less greedy and more mindful of risk – before subjecting one’s wealth to the vagaries of booms & busts.

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Bharti Airtel - MTN | Less of more vs more of less

Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal’s willingness to own a lesser stake in a larger company rather than a much larger stake in a much smaller company sets him apart from several other entrepreneurs.

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Stock Market Articles | Selected India Stock Market articles

Best stock market articles? Don’t worry if you don’t have the time. This section will bring you our selection of thought-provoking, interesting articles appearing in Indian business media, every week.

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Esab India | Quality Small Cap stock | Add to your watchlist!

Esab India is probably the most promising of the Quality Small Company low PEG stock screen shortlist. Debt free, high RoAs & RoEs over 40% and a FCF/Sales over 7% underscores its competitive edge.

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Quality Small Cap Stocks Screener| Shortlist 14-July-2009

Quality Small Cap Stocks. You might have wondered how one can research such stock ideas in India stock market? Check out a shortlist at the SPH Quality Small cap stock screen (14 July 2009).

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Cornerstone Value Stock Screener | Stocks selection| 14-Jul-2009

Cornerstone Value Stock Screener looks for large companies with strong sales and cash flows, with the highest dividend yield. Based on O’Shaughnessy’s 1996 Bestseller “What works on Wall Street”.

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Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) |Advantages & Good time to start a SIP?

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) – What are the advantages over lumpsum investing? Is it a good time for starting a SIP?

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Investing in Stocks |Need to learn the ropes |How do I start?

I'm considering giving investing in stocks a shot, but need to learn the ropes. Can you give some tips and advice on how to start?

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Investing for kids |What is the best investment plan for a child's career

Investing for kids. I wanted to invest money on some funds for my son’s (10 months old) career. Can you suggest me what are the plans suited for me? I am ready to invest 1lakh rupees.

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Growth Investing Basics | How to invest my money for growth with security

Is growth investing for me? I want to invest my money for growth (with security). Please suggest me where can I invest my money?

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Investing Basics | 7 steps for newbies to invest in a SIP Plan

I am a novice trying to learn Investing Basics first steps. What are the exact procedures one totally ignorant person should follow to invest in a SIP?

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Investing Basics |How should I invest to accumulate 50lakhs in 10 years ?

I am 41. I have an investing basics query. Income is 6 lakhs per year. I pay LIC premium of 1.2 lakhs per year. How should I invest to accumulate 50 lakhs in 10 years?

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Where to Invest |Asset Allocation |Portfolio diversification

Where to Invest? Learn asset allocation basics, and tailor to your investment profile. Decisions you make here will have by far the greatest impact on your investment portfolio’s performance.

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How to Invest |Return requirements |Risk tolerance |Your Investment profile

How to Invest? Devise your investment strategy. Find out how your investment profile plays a crucial role in helping you meet your investment goals without exceeding your tolerance for risk.

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How to Invest |Understand Return and Risk |Risk Return analysis |Diversify

How to Invest? First, understand basics of return and risk, with the trade-offs associated with each investment asset class. Learn to use diversification as a means of mitigating these risks.

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Understanding Stock Market | Our Stock Performance Review

Understanding stock market vagaries and looking to benefit from it? We are certainly getting better! Check out our 3month performance review!

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Andhra Bank | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Andhra Bank Consolidated 5yr performance is an interesting mixed bag! Good cost-efficiency and NPAs but gradual decline in NIMs. High RoEs but available at 0.77xBV and high Yield of over 7%.

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Punjab National Bank (PNB) | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Punjab National Bank Consolidated 5yr performance is commendable. Stable NIMs, good RoA and RoE record, and manageable NPA levels. It is catching up fast with the private banks.

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Bank of India | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Bank of India Consolidated 5yr record shows strong Balance Sheet growth, high margins and profitability in the last couple of years. Sharp declines in CASA deposits may be of some concern.

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India Private Banks | Rising Contingent Liabilities | Analysis

Contingent liabilities snapshot of leading india private banks throws up some questions – how significant is the rise in exposures, how’s the impact on valuation, and quantum of losses provisioned for

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Bank of Baroda | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Bank of Baroda Consolidated 5yr performance looks good! Conservative derivatives and forward exchange contracts exposure, great cost-efficiency performance, with decent margins and return ratios.

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10 questions for Opto Circuits management |In-depth Stock Research | Analysis

Opto Circuits - latest update on 10 probing questions to Management. Mr. Vinod Ramnani, MD shared his thoughts and answered everything that we posed in this candid interview. We ran out of questions!

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Private Banks India | Comparative Stock Analysis

Compare Private Banks in India. This quick-check analysis and comparison of leading private banks throws up the best and the worst managed banks; also allows you to drill down to 5yr trends.

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Yes Bank | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Yes Bank 4yr performance presents a remarkable record - industry best RoE (18.34%), the most cost-efficient (29.5%), with the lowest net NPAs (0.09%) coupled with the highest growth record.

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Personal Finance News and Articles

Keep yourself updated with the latest Personal Finance news and articles - budgeting, investment, insurance products, questions and answers.

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Indian Mutual Funds News

Keep yourself updated with the latest Indian Mutual Funds news and articles - AMC news, new launches, fund performances and updates on existing schemes.

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Stock Market News | India Stock Market News

Keep yourself updated with the latest stock market news, company and business news, and the Indian economy in general –from leading business dailies and the web.

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State Bank of India | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

State Bank of India Consolidated 5yr performance is an eye-opener! It has one of the best records on cost-efficiency, RoE beats HDFC Bank, and currently available at less than consolidated Book!

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Axis Bank | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

Axis Bank Consolidated 5yr performance shows improvement on most parameters - Managing NPAs, Financial Leverage and NIMs while maintaining above-average growth. Certainly deserves a closer look.

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ICICI Bank | Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

ICICI Bank Consolidated 5yr performance shows a drastic falling margins trend - a case of the gambit of too fast growth - coming apart?

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HDFC Bank |Stock Research | 5yr Stock Analysis

HDFC Bank - quick-check stock analysis step 1. These metrics serve as a starting point for seeking out quality bank stocks.

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India stock market | Sector stocks | Compare stocks

India Stock Market: Useful resource page for sector stocks, sector issues & analysis guidelines, peer comparisons, investor checklists, as also in-depth research on sector-specific stocks.

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Compare Bank Stocks in India! Where are the best pockets of value?

Compare Bank Stocks in India: A quick check template identifies Yes Bank and Axis Bank as best-value possible contenders for further in-depth analysis (Mar 2009)

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High Dividend Stocks | BSE Sensex

High Dividend Stocks: Sensex - The top 10 highest yielding Sensex stocks. Find out why it may make sense to invest in the Dogs of the Sensex, in current markets.

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Dogs of the Dow - the most successful investing strategy in bear markets?

The Dogs of the Dow stock screening strategy is regarded as one of the most successful investment strategies of all time. Evidence suggests the success rate is higher during bear markets.

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