Commonly used ratios As there are different measures of profit (such as gross profit, operating profit and net profit), we can calculate one profitability ratio corresponding to each measure of profit. These ratios are gross profit margin (GPM), operating profit margin (OPM) and net profit margin (NPM). Other...

Most stock market investors don’t have a clear understanding of what bonus issue means to them and what happens when spocks split. Here is an attempt to clarify the difference between bonus shares and stock splits and what they mean to ordinary investors. Bonus Issue In a bonus issue, a company...

Historically, Equity markets have been giving highest annual returns than all others asset classes for disciplined long term investors. Equities are even more rewarding and can create serious wealth for you, if you can identify right stocks at right price and stay invested in those for long term. So...

Dividend is a portion of the profits that a company pays to its share holders. Companies that earn a profit can do one of three things: pay that profit out to shareholders, reinvest it in the business through expansion, debt reduction or share repurchases, or both. When a portion of the profit is paid...

As the name suggests, derivative is a financial instrument that derives its value from another financial asset. For example, a gold derivative’s value depends on the price of gold. There are various types of derivatives such as, futures, forwards, options, and swaps. Futures Futures are the most...

The stock market is essentially an auction market where shares, which represent an ownership in the company, are bought and sold. The markets where stocks are traded are called stock exchanges. In India, National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are two big stock exchanges. At these...