How to pick the best stocks to invest in? Part 1 of 2

It takes the best stock market predictions toHow cheap the stock is.
achieve top stock market results, but choosingRecommended value:
the best stocks to invest in is not easy. OneLess than one (PEG < 1)
approach professional investors and traders use isInterpretation:
the fundamental analysis of stocks, where othersThe value of PEG ratio
prefer the technical analysis of stock market- below one is an indication of possibly
trend.undervalued stock.
The fundamental analysis of stocks is based on- equals one suggests the market is pricing the
criteria like Earnings per share, Price/Earnings ratio,stock to fully reflect the stock's EPS growth.
PEG Ratio, Return on equity and Return on- above one means the stock is possibly
assets.overvalued or the stock market expects future
Whether you are looking for best penny stock toEPS growth to be greater than what is currently
buy or any other hot stock to trade, you will findin the street consensus number.
the following five out 10 fundamental key metricsObservation:
very useful. They pinpoint the characteristicsPEG ratio cannot be used in isolation.
shared by the top performing stocks before they4. Return on equity - ROE
made huge trading profits in short term.Definition:
1. Earnings per share - EPSIt is the ratio of the company’s 12-month net
Definition:income to its shareholder equity (book value).
EPS is the ratio of the company's net income toWhat it measures:
its number of outstanding shares (all stocks heldHow profitable the company is.
by investors and the company's insiders).Recommended value:
What it measures:No Less than 15%
Earnings-per-share (EPS) serves as an indicator ofInterpretation:
a company's profitability.High debt companies have higher
Recommended value:return-on-equities (ROEs) than low debt
No less than 80.companies.
Interpretation:Observation:
If a company has displayed good growth overRelying on return-on-equity(ROE)  has a
the last 5 or 10-year period, it is likely to continuedownside. You will end up overweighting your
doing so in the next five to 10 years.portfolio with high-debt stocks if you go by ROE
Observation:alone.
There are many ways to define "earnings" and5. Return on assets - ROA
"shares outstanding". That led to different type ofDefinition:
EPS.It's the net income divided by total assets.
2. Price/Earnings Ratio - P/E RatioWhat it measures:
Definition:How profitable the company is in relation to its
Ratio of a company' share price to its earningstotal assets.
per share.Recommended value:
What it measures:ROA above 20% and higher is better. Avoid
How much investors are willing to pay per dollarcompany with return-on-assets below 5%.
of earnings.Interpretation:
Recommended value:The lower the debt, the higher the return on
A higher P/E compared to the market or industryassets. A rising return-on-assets(ROA) usually
average.foretells a rising stock price.
Interpretation:Observation:
If a company has displayed good growth overThe assets of the company are comprised of
the last five- or 10-year period, it is likely toboth debt and equity. The ROA is some time
continue doing so in the next five to 10 years.called ROI.
Observation:In Part 2, we will look at the  stocks
There are different types of P/E but the mostfundamentals like Relative price strength, Cash
used is the trailing P/E calculated with the EPSFlow, Financial leverage ratio,
from last four quarters.Consencus-earnings-forecast.
3. Price/Earnings to Growth ratio - PEG RatioTo  boost your stock market results with
Definition:high-returns  picks  or subscribe to Free stock
PEG Ratio is the price/earnings (P/E) ratio dividedpicks Newsletter visit Hot Canadian, European and
by the projected year-over-year earnings growthUSA Stock Market Picks,  the website of the
rate.company co-founded by Christian Bayonne.
What it measures: