Here you may want to look at the company’s range of products, its principal customers and the geographic areas the company serves, the company’s market share, its trade policies in terms of pricing, promotion of its products, advertising and publicity, seasonality of its sales, its principal competitors, and the prevailing conditions in the company’s particular market.
Industrial Capacity and Level of Technology
You may be interested in the company’s production process, the amount it spends on research and development, the patents it owns, its raw materials and their suppliers, the company’s quality standards and certifications, and its environmental protection policies, standards, and practices.
The Human Factor
The human factor is an important intangible, that include the company’s management and its employees. The background and qualifications of senior management are relevant in evaluating a company’s prospects for the future, and any recent changes in management will be worth noting. The general labor climate in the industry and in the company are significant aspects, as are the company’s policies regarding the training and incentives it provides to its employees, in addition to general working conditions and the overall job satisfaction of its workers.
Summary Note
Looking beyond the ticker symbol and learning about the company will connect you – it will give you a real feeling of ownership and lead you to a wealth of information about what your money is doing while it is out there working for you.