What is fundamental analysis and why is it important for trading?

Are you making trades based on what a chart is doing right now, or are you looking under the hood? In this episode, we move beyond pure speculation and break down fundamental analysis, showing you how to evaluate a company or asset based on its real-world health and performance. We'll explore the core concepts, from finding a company's intrinsic valueto key metrics like EPS and P/E ratio, and explain why this approach can give you a significant edge over the long term.

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Key Takeaways

• Fundamental analysis is the process of evaluating a company or asset based on its underlying financial health and performance, not just its price chart.
• The goal is to determine an asset's intrinsic value—what it should be genuinely worth—and compare it to the current market price to find potential opportunities.
• This analysis applies to more than just stocks; it's crucial for understanding the value of commodities, currencies, and even certain options strategies.
• A successful approach often combines fundamental analysis (the "what to trade") with technical analysis (the "when to trade"), using both to get a complete picture.

"If you're only looking at the curb appeal, you're missing the foundation."

Timestamped Summary

• 1:06 Breaking down the core concept of fundamental analysis
• 2:46 Why fundamental analysis applies to more than just stocks
• 3:17 Top-down vs. bottom-up approaches
• 4:39 Key metrics for stock analysis
• 6:14 The danger of ignoring fundamentals and chasing the chart
• 8:33 How to combine fundamentals with technicals
• 10:43 A simple, actionable process for fundamental analysis

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