THE INVESTORS GUIDEBOOK TO
EQUITIES
Equity Pricing, Trading, and Investing
STUART R. VEALE
Prentice Hall Press
PRENTICE HALL PRESS
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Copyright 2014 by Stuart R. Veale
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-63726-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Veale, Stuart R.
The investors guidebook to equities : equity pricing, trading, and investing / Stuart R. Veale.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-7352-0532-1 (pbk.)
1. Stocks. 2. StocksPrices. 3. Investment analysis. I. Title.
HG4661.V43 2014
332.63'22dc23 2013035847
First edition: January 2014
PUBLISHERS NOTE: This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If you require legal advice or other expert assistance, you should seek the services of a competent professional. Continued .
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This book is dedicated to the millions of investors who are trying to make sense of the stock market so they can obtain a safe and secure retirement for themselves and their families. This is no easy task. Some estimates predict fewer than 15% of Americans will accumulate enough assets to enjoy a safe and secure retirement. While investing in stocks is challenging, it is often an investors best chance of obtaining the wealth and income they need to retire.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to thank William Addis who helped write and update the chapter on equity trading. As always, the author would like to thank Jeanette Shaw and her amazing team at Penguin. Working under incredibly short deadlines, they turned my notes into the attractive finished product you have in your hands.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
I finished the second edition of my book on investing called Stocks, Bonds, Options, Futures (SBOF) in 2001. Here we are 12 years later. While the second edition was still selling well, it was also overdue for an update. Over the last 12 years, much has changed in the way stocks and bonds were priced, traded, analyzed, packaged, and marketed. Specialists on the New York Stock Exchange were replaced with designated market makers. The volume of trades executed on the dark pools soared. Derivatives on rainfall and wind had become hot products. Twenty-four-hour trading became a reality. The variety of exotic options exploded. Exchange-traded funds became the fastest growing financial product in history, etc.
I started out to write the third edition of SBOF, but it quickly became clear the industry had become too broad and too complex to comfortably fit in one text. Therefore, after discussing it with my publisher and readers, I made the decision to break the book into four manageable volumes:
- The Investors Guidebook to Derivatives
- The Investors Guidebook to Alternative Investments
- The Investors Guidebook to Fixed Income Investments
- The Investors Guidebook to Equities
My hope is that by expanding the book into four volumes, Ill be able to make them more comprehensive, include more examples, and make the books more useful to my readers. While I made every effort to proof the text, there will undoubtedly be errors for which I assume full responsibility. It is my intent to update these volumes frequently, and therefore, I welcome my readers suggestions on which topics should be added, expanded, and omitted in future editions. Please email your questions, critiques, and comments to stu@invest-perform.com. I hope to answer every email I receive.
This book was prepared from sources believed to be reliable but which are not guaranteed. The research analyst who is primarily responsible for this research and whose name is listed on the front cover certifies that: (1) All of the views expressed in this research accurately reflect my personal views about any and all of the subject securities or issuers; and (2) no part of any of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed herein. Opinions and estimates constitute my judgment as of this writing and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. Securities, financial instruments, or strategies mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. The opinions and recommendations herein do not take into account individual client circumstances, objectives, or needs, and are not intended as recommendations of particular securities, financial instruments, or strategies to particular clients. The reader must make independent decisions regarding any securities or financial instruments mentioned herein.
INTRODUCTION
One hundred years ago stocks were primarily owned by the very wealthy. Today, the majority of adults in the United States own stock either directlyor indirectly through their IRAs, 401(k) plans, and company pension plans. The US equity market is one of the most important tools for building wealth. It has allowed business owners to raise billions of dollars of capital to start and grow businesses. Over the last 70 years, it has allowed the creation of millions of jobs and rewarded investors with average returns well above those available from bank deposits or bonds.
Investing in stocks is one of the three primary drivers behind people becoming millionairesthe other two being starting a business and investing in real estate. Todays stock market has the highest liquidity, lowest transaction charges, widest range of powerful stock selection and management tools, and greatest variety of investment alternatives. This book provides investors with the essential background information they need to begin their study of the stock market. While this book provides a foundation of knowledge, studying the stock market is a lifelong undertaking.