COST

Of every 100 units of revenue, this much survives as profit.

Thin margins leave little room for a bad year — typical of retail and airlines.

Profit from operations, before interest and tax, per 100 of revenue.

Little cushion between operating costs and revenue.

What is left of revenue after only the direct cost of the product.

Costs of goods eat most of the revenue — normal in retail, distribution and hardware assembly.

Profit generated per unit of shareholder capital.

Rare when sustained — check whether debt is flattering it, since borrowing shrinks the equity denominator.

Profit generated per unit of everything the company owns.

The assets are working hard.

Borrowings measured against shareholder capital.

Normal for most established companies.

Short-term assets against short-term obligations.

Enough to cover near-term bills.

Short-term assets excluding inventory, against short-term debts.

Near-term obligations are roughly covered without selling inventory.

Change in revenue against the same period last year.

Rapid growth, though the question is always how long it can hold.

Change in earnings against the same period last year.

Check whether it is repeatable or a one-off — a single asset sale can flatter this badly.

The share of earnings paid out as dividends.

Comfortably covered, with room to keep raising it.

Return earned per unit of risk taken.

Below 1 is the common case; return did not strongly outpace the volatility.

The share of trading days that closed higher.

Close to a coin flip, which is the norm — returns come from the size of moves, not their count.

You pay 48.34 for every 1 unit of annual earnings.

Above 40 the price assumes growth that then has to actually arrive.

Price against next year's *forecast* earnings.

Even next year's expected earnings do not bring the multiple down much.

P/E divided by the growth rate — it asks whether the price is justified by the growth.

Above 2 you pay more per unit of growth than the convention treats as reasonable.

Price against the accounting value of the company's net assets.

Normal for asset-light businesses, where the value sits in brands and software the balance sheet never records.

Price against revenue — usable when a company has no profit yet.

A common range for a profitable, growing business.

Whole-company value, debt included, against cash earnings.

Expensive even before interest, tax and depreciation are considered.

Annual dividend as a percentage of the share price.

A small income component.

A 0–100 momentum gauge over the last 14 sessions.

The middle band, where most trading days sit.

Trend strength, regardless of direction.

Below about 20 the price is ranging rather than trending.

How far the price typically swings over a year.

A typical range for an individual share.

How much the price moves relative to the wider market.

Moves roughly in step with the index.

The worst peak-to-trough fall in the period measured.

A serious decline, though not unusual over a multi-year window.

How far the mean analyst target sits above today's price.

Analysts see real room above today's price.