How to Select Stocks to Invest During a Downturn?

By Shweta Suri

While an individual is planning to invest in a company and purchase its stocks, it becomes very important to know and find out the answer to the following 6 questions. These questions can help you gain a sound and better understanding of the prevailing situation of business and market.
1) What is the source of cash flow?
To evaluate a business, the investor must know about all the sources from where a company generates cash. These evaluations must be based on some specific and reliable facts rather than assumptions.
2) What cash amount is generated?
After estimating the actual source of cash flows, the investors must estimate the actual amount of cash generated and also the timing of flow of cash into the business. Through this process the investors can have a sound understanding of the business and its financial conditions.
3) Is the cash flow in a sustainable condition?
Some people tend to invest in the stocks of a company by considering its profitability over the years. However, things do not function in the similar way and the astute have now realised that the past history holds least importance in the projection of the future cash flow and other business conditions.
Thus, it is recommended that those who wish to invest in a business must examine the sustainability of cash flow in it.
4) What capital amount is required to operate the business?
Different businesses require different amount of capital to operate their activities and generate profits. A manufacturing firm would require huge amount of capital to invest in their property, plant and equipments. While an agency that extends services would require very little capital expenditure for the smooth running of the business and generate profits.
5) What way the management treats the shareholders?
The management must treat the shareholders in a friendly and respectable manner as it is the most qualitative determinant towards success.
6) Are the actions of the management consistent?
Before actually investing in the stocks of a company, the investors must check out the present annual report of the firm. This can help the investors to analyse the consistency and keep a track on the promises made by the company and also evaluate its plans for the coming year.
If you wish to know more about investing in Stocks, please visit www.economynews.in
Shweta Suri
researcher
http://www.economynews.in
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shweta_Suri