Fundamentals explain what the business is earning, what it owns, how much leverage it carries and how the market is valuing those traits.
Revenue, EBITDA and net profit
Beginner
Revenue shows demand, EBITDA approximates operating cash generation and net profit shows what remains after financing and taxes.
Why it mattersSustained growth in all three usually supports rerating. Deterioration in margins often pressures the share price before revenue fully weakens.
Watch out forA single quarter can be noisy. Always compare against prior quarters and the same quarter last year.
Margin = profit metric / revenue
Gross, operating and net margins show how efficiently a company converts sales into profits.
Why it mattersMargin expansion often signals pricing power or operating leverage, both of which markets reward.
Watch out forMargins are sector specific. Comparing a bank margin to an FMCG margin is not useful.
PE, PB and EV/EBITDA
Intermediate
Valuation multiples compare price or enterprise value against earnings, book value or cash operating profit.
Why it mattersMultiples help judge whether good news is already priced in or whether a quality business still trades cheaply relative to peers.
Watch out forA low multiple can mean value or trouble. A high multiple can mean excess or genuine quality. Context matters.
Return = profit / capital employed
Return ratios tell you how effectively management converts shareholder or total capital into profits.
Why it mattersHigh and stable returns are often associated with stronger compounding and better market multiples.
Watch out forDebt can temporarily inflate ROE. Check leverage before treating high ROE as quality.
Debt, cash and liquidity
Beginner
Balance-sheet strength matters most when rates rise or business conditions tighten.
Why it mattersStrong cash generation and manageable leverage reduce downside risk and allow investment through weak cycles.
Watch out forDebt is not always bad. Capital-intensive sectors naturally run higher leverage than asset-light software or services firms.
Growth quality
Intermediate
Revenue growth, earnings growth and cash conversion together reveal whether growth is healthy or fragile.
Why it mattersMarkets usually pay the highest multiples for durable growth supported by margin stability and cash generation.
Watch out forPure growth without cash quality often rerates sharply lower when expectations cool.