Now making an investment decision is a wise thing to do. But what is wiser is the idea of doing your “homework” first. This homework if down by you with utmost care will result in long term benefits for you. Now let us have a look at the homework that needs to be done in a stepwise manner so that you make the right investment decision.
The first step
The first step is to figure out how a company makes money. Now the company never depends on just one particular option to make money. It is because the risks are many. There is always a chance of failure of any of the sector on which the company is financially dependent. So it is required that the companies do the proper research to finally understand not one but many other ways of earning money. It may involve making money through manufacturing and selling of products, by participating in the stock market, partnering with other companies, etc.
The second step
Now once you are through with the first step the next thing that is required to be done is to figure out how the company can continue making money. Now, this step is necessary and should not be avoided just because you did pretty well in the first step. It is because in the business industry nothing is ever stable. Be it a small or a big organization any of these can get bankrupt at any point of time and vanish into thin air. Now f you dependent on a limited source, it may bring all of a sudden a lot of financial burden on you if you haven’t yet widened your options. So you need to figure out ways in which you continue making money other than the conventional method that you’ve decided earlier in step one.
The third step
Now, this step consists of market research. This step will help you in analyzing the various hidden opportunities in the market and then invest in the best company out there. Carrying proper market research will also acquaint you with the threats of the market, so you don’t end up making an unwise investment related decision. This market research is something you can’t and shouldn’t avoid.
The fourth step
Now the fourth step in completing your homework is to check the balance sheet of the company in which you are planning to invest. Go through the annual statement of the company carefully and look out if the company is indebted and if yes then by amount is it so.
The fifth step
It is the final step of completing your homework. In this, you have to make an evaluation which means that you will have to understand the valuation of the stocks. It will help you a lot onto finally deciding as to which company you ultimately want to invest in. And then go ahead with it.
Thus once you have completed all of the five steps, your “homework” is complete. And you will finally come to conclusions as to which company will be better for you to invest.