How can a startup utilize the financial stability guidelines from The Intelligent Investor to ensure growth?

A startup can utilize the financial stability guidelines from The Intelligent Investor in several ways to ensure growth. Firstly, they can aim to have strong financials, where their current assets are twice their current liabilities, providing a cushion for difficult times. They should also aim to have long-term debt not exceeding their working capital. Secondly, they should strive for earnings stability, ensuring there are earnings for the common stock over a period of time. Thirdly, if possible, they should have a dividend record, processing uninterrupted payments for a certain period. Lastly, they should aim for earnings growth, showing a minimum increase in per-share earnings over a certain period. These guidelines can help a startup maintain financial stability and ensure growth.

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Size of the Enterprise: Choose companies with at least $2 billion in annual assets to ensure they are large enough to avoid high volatility in stock prices. Strong Financials The company's current assets must be twice the current liabilities to ensure a cushion for difficult times. Long-term debt must not exceed working capital. In 2003, about 120 of the S&P 500 companies met this ratio. Earnings Stability: There must be some earnings for the common stock over the past ten years. 86% of companies in the S&P index had positive earnings every year from 1993 to 2002. Dividend Record: They should have processed uninterrupted payments for at least 20 years. Over 255 companies had paid dividends from 1993 to 2002. Earnings Growth: The company should show a minimum increase of at least 33% in per-share earnings over the past ten years. Over 260 companies met this standard as of 2002. Moderate Price/Earnings Ratio: The stock's current price should not be more than 15 times the average earning...

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The Intelligent Investor

This book will not teach you how to beat the market. However, it will teach you how to reduce risk, protect your capital from loss and reliably genera...

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