What are the key metrics to consider when researching stocks for investment?

When researching stocks for investment, it's essential to consider a range of metrics to get a comprehensive view of the company's performance, potential, and risk. Here are the key metrics to consider:

1. **Financial Metrics**
- **Revenue Growth Rate**: Measures the increase in revenue over a specific period, indicating the company's growth trajectory.
- **Profit Margin**: Net profit as a percentage of revenue, assessing the company's profitability.
- **Return on Investment (ROI)**: The ratio of net profit to the cost of investment, evaluating the efficiency of an investment.
- **Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA)**: Operational profitability before non-operating expenses, useful for comparing profitability across different companies.
- **Current Ratio**: The ratio of current assets to current liabilities, indicating liquidity and short-term financial health.
- **Debt-to-Equity Ratio**: The ratio of total debt to shareholders’ equity, reflecting the company's leverage and risk profile.
- **Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio**: The ratio of the market value of a company to its per-share earnings, helping investors determine the market's willingness to pay for the stock.
- **Debt-to-Equity Ratio**.
- **Free Cash Flow**: Measures how efficient a company is at generating cash and its ability to reward shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
- **Price-to-Earnings to Growth (P/E to G) Ratio (P/E to G)**.
- **Dividend Yield**: The ratio of annual dividends per share to the stock's price per share, attractive for income-focused investors.
2. **Qualitative Factors**
- **Competitive Advantages**: Such as strong brand recognition, proprietary technology, or efficient supply chains.
- **Market Position**: The company's standing within its industry, including market share and competitive landscape.
- **Management Quality**: The experience and track record of the management team in executing the company's strategy.
3. **Technical Analysis**
- **Technical Indicators**: Such as Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands, which provide insights into market trends and momentum.
- **Price Patterns**: Chart patterns and trends identified through line charts, support and resistance levels, and other visual analyses.
- **Volume Indicators**: Measures of buying and selling pressure, such as On-Balance Volume (OBV), which can indicate the strength of institutional interest.

These metrics provide a balanced view, combining financial health, growth potential, and market dynamics to inform investment decisions. It's important to consider both quantitative and qualitative factors to form a well-rounded assessment of a stock's value and risk.