Profit
The absolute dollars those margins produce.
Profit from the core business.
Operating profit before non-cash charges.
The bottom line.
Bottom line per share, after dilution.
Operating costs
Where the money goes before any of it becomes profit.
Cash generation
Whether reported profit actually turns into cash. This is the honest one.
Cash produced by running the business.
Cash spent on plant, equipment and infrastructure.
Cash left over once the business is paid for.
Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year ago.
Balance sheet
What the company owns, what it owes, and what is left for owners.
Dry powder, and the cushion for a bad year.
Short-term plus long-term borrowings.
Debt minus cash. Below zero means net cash.
Everything on the left side of the sheet.
Everything the company owes.
Assets minus liabilities: the owners’ share.
Returns on capital
Whether management earns a good return on the money it is given, and whether the balance sheet could take a hit.
The single best test of a business quality.
Profit earned on the owners’ capital.
Return on real assets, ignoring goodwill.
How much of the company is funded by lenders.
Short-term assets against short-term bills.
Valuation
What the market currently charges for everything above.
Price per dollar of earnings.
Price per dollar of free cash flow.
Whole-company value against operating profit.
Price against accounting net worth.
Free cash flow as a yield on the market cap.
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