Updated: May 9, 2023
Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating the intrinsic value of a stock by analyzing financial and economic data such as revenue, earnings, assets, and liabilities.
Used by stock traders and value investors, it is a popular approach to determine whether a stock is overvalued or undervalued to make informed trading and investing decisions.
By examining a company’s financial statements, fundamental analysis provides a long-term perspective on a company’s growth potential and overall financial health.
Like all analytical tools, fundamental analysis has its own strengths and weaknesses. For you to understand better what fundamental analysis is, below are its various advantages and disadvantages.
PROS / ADVANTAGES OF FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS
Helps to identify undervalued stocks
One of the key benefits of fundamental analysis is that it can help investors identify undervalued stocks – that is, stocks that are trading at a price below their intrinsic value.
By analyzing a company’s financial statements and economic data, you can determine the company’s future growth potential and earnings prospects, and use this information to estimate its intrinsic value.
If a stock is undervalued, then it represents a buying opportunity. Conversely, if the company’s intrinsic value is lower than its current market price, then it’s overvalued and represents a selling opportunity.
The belief is that a stock’s price will approach its true value over time, although there’s no guarantee. Nevertheless, knowing the current intrinsic value of a company gives a sound justification of where the stock price could go.
Provides a long-term perspective
Fundamental analysis takes a more in-depth look at a company’s financial statements, revenue growth, profitability, debt levels, cash flow, and market share, among others. These factors can help you gain insights into a company’s long-term outlook.
Furthermore, this information is particularly useful if you are looking to build a diversified investment portfolio.
Helps to identify trends
By analyzing financial and economic data, you can gain insights into the factors that drive a company’s revenue and earnings growth.
This can then be checked against trends in the market, and see if any shifts in consumer preferences or changes in macroeconomic conditions may impact a company’s performance and stock price.
For example, if there is a growing demand for real estate, then you can invest in companies that are well-positioned to benefit from this trend. Possibly, the current leaders in real estate development and construction.
Similarly, if you identify a shift in macroeconomic conditions, such as rising interest rates, you can adjust your investment strategy to focus on companies that are less vulnerable such as power and utilities.
Provides a basis for comparison.
Fundamental analysis can be used to compare between different companies in the same industry or sector.
For example, if deciding between two companies in the same industry, you can compare their PE ratio, revenue growth, and debt levels, among other factors to determine which company is performing better financially and has a stronger growth potential.
Moreover, if a company’s financial metrics are better than its peers, but its stock price is lower, it may represent an undervalued opportunity for investors.
CONS / DISADVANTAGES OF FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS
May be time-consuming
To do fundamental analysis, you must carefully review a company’s financial statements and economic data, as well as monitor industry trends and economic conditions. This is a tedious process that also requires a strong understanding of financial and economic concepts.
Moreover, some companies may release their financial documents only on a quarterly or even annual basis, which can limit the amount of information available for analysis at any given time. You may need to wait months before getting the necessary data.
In addition, fundamental analysis should consider economic and market conditions. This can be particularly challenging in fast-moving industries or sectors that are subject to rapid change and disruption.
Fortunately, there are now websites that curate such information for easier access, as well as tools and software to automate some aspects of fundamental analysis and streamline the process. But there are only a few available for the Philippine market.
May not account for market sentiment
Market sentiment refers to the overall mood or feeling of investors toward the market or a particular stock. It can be influenced by a wide range of factors, including news events, economic indicators, and geopolitical developments.
When market sentiment is positive, investors may be more likely to buy stocks, which can drive up stock prices. Conversely, when market sentiment is negative, investors may be more likely to sell stocks, which can drive down stock prices.
Because fundamental analysis is primarily based on objective data, it may not fully account for market sentiment. This means that even if a company has strong financials and a positive long-term growth outlook, its stock price may still be negatively impacted by negative market sentiment.
For example, if there is negative news about a particular industry or sector, such as an increase in interest rates or a trade dispute, it may cause investors to sell off stocks in that sector, even if the underlying companies have strong fundamentals.
Moreover, in certain situations, market sentiment can have a self-fulfilling effect on stock prices. For example, if a large number of investors believe that a particular stock is overvalued, they may start selling their shares, causing the stock price to decline, regardless of its actual financial performance.
May not be applicable to all types of companies
Fundamental analysis is typically most useful for companies with a strong financial history and consistent performance. For these companies, financial metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow can provide valuable insights into their long-term growth potential and financial health.
However, for companies that are in the early stages of their development or are in industries that are subject to rapid change and disruption, traditional financial metrics may not be as applicable. These companies may be focused on developing new products or services, expanding into new markets, or building brand recognition, which may not yet be reflected in their financial statements.
In addition, some industries may have unique business models or operating structures that make it difficult to apply traditional fundamental analysis techniques. For example, companies in the technology sector may have high levels of research and development expenses, which may not immediately translate into revenue or profitability.
Moreover, some companies may have complex ownership structures or may be subject to government regulations that can impact their financial performance. These factors may require a more specialized approach to analysis, beyond traditional fundamental analysis.
May not account for unexpected events
Unexpected events, such as natural disasters, geopolitical events, unexpected changes in consumer behavior, or changes in regulatory policy, can have a significant impact on a company’s financial performance and stock price.
For example, a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake can cause significant damage to a company’s facilities, disrupt its supply chain, or impact consumer demand for its products. Similarly, changes in government policy, such as tax or regulatory changes, can have a significant impact on a company’s operations and profitability.
This means that even if a company has strong financials and a positive long-term growth outlook, its stock price may still be negatively impacted by unexpected events.
In Summary
Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating stocks based on financial and economic data such as revenue, earnings, assets, and liabilities.
The advantages of fundamental analysis include helping to identify undervalued stocks, providing a long-term perspective, identifying trends, providing a basis for comparison, and providing a detailed understanding of a company’s financial health and growth potential.
However, the disadvantages of fundamental analysis include that it may be time-consuming, may not account for market sentiment, may not be applicable to all types of companies, and may not account for unexpected events.
Ultimately, while fundamental analysis can provide a useful framework for evaluating the intrinsic value of a stock, it should be used in conjunction with other analytical methods and factors, such as technical analysis and market sentiment, to make informed investment decisions.
Related article: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Technical Analysis
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