Read a 10-K Risk Section Like a Sector Researcher: Build a Comparison, Not a Scare List
Use business descriptions and risk disclosures to create a structured company comparison without assuming every…
Author: Matt Hardy
P/E Ratios Across Sectors: Why a Lower Multiple Is Not Automatically Cheaper
Separate share price, earnings and the reporting period before treating a low P/E ratio as…
Drawdown Math: Why Recovering from a Loss Requires a Bigger Percentage Gain
A 20% loss requires a 25% recovery. See the formula and learn how deposits can…
Gross Margin vs. Operating Margin: Two Different Views of a Company’s Business
Revenue growth can hide different profit patterns. Compare gross and operating margins with a worked…
Extended-Hours Quotes: Why the Last Trade May Be a Poor Guide to Your Fill
Thin trading and wider spreads can make an after-hours headline price different from the price…
Trading Expectancy: Why a High Win Rate Can Still Lose Money
Combine win rate, average gains, average losses and costs to evaluate a historical trade sample…
T+1 Settlement: Why a Completed Stock Trade and Settled Cash Are Different
Understand trade date, settlement date and cash availability, including a simple business-day timeline.
Nominal Gains vs. Purchasing Power: Calculate an Inflation-Adjusted Return
A larger account balance does not automatically mean more buying power. Use a worked example…
Why Falling Crude Oil Prices Do Not Mean an Equal Drop at the Gas Pump
Crude oil is only part of gasoline’s retail price. Separate refining, distribution and taxes before…
Unemployment vs. Labor Force Participation: Read Both Before Judging the Jobs Market
A falling unemployment rate does not tell the whole labor-market story. Compare the two denominators…