What is the Industry Snapshot?

The Industry Snapshot is dedicated to demystifying stock valuation. Presently, we are at a critical juncture in the history of investing. At no other time has the individual investor been given the opportunity to access the same tools as the "information elite" on Wall Street. The received wisdom from financial "experts" has always been imparted from up on high, shrouded in mystery to preserve the information advantage. Well, we are here to tell you that making intelligent investment decisions is not rocket science. It's not easy -- nothing worthwhile ever is -- but it's not difficult once you have the proper tools in your grasp. All any of us ever need is for someone to explain this stuff in plain English.

The Industry Snapshot is the best educational tool available for learning how to invest in stocks, even if all you have is a fax machine. With a nod toward the ancient proverb, is it more valuable to receive the fish or the fishing pole? The answer is obvious, and not only do we provide the fishing pole, but we hope to teach you how to reel in some great fish... er, stocks as well.

The Industry Snapshot is a weekly newsletter where we examine a particular industry and six companies within it. We compare stock valuations of companies in the peer group through a comprehensive analysis of various ratios. However, the investing process is not a mechanical one. If all that was required was a simple screen that churned out the best companies, then a whole lot more people would be millionaires. Industry Snapshot combines both a quantitative and a qualitative approach to valuation that is essential when attempting to understand stock price movements. Here's what you get:

- Two full pages of industry overview and analysis that answers questions like: What are the important trends that dictate where the industry is headed? What are the important accounting considerations? Accrual accounting is inherently flexible, allowing for considerable variation in expense and revenue recognition across industries (among other things) -- what should be of concern to investors? Most important of all, what are the various business models employed by companies in the industry?

- Two pages of company analysis describing six companies that compete within the industry. The first part of this section includes an overview of each respective company and valuation considerations, as well as the latest reported results. The final portion features the most attractive company in the group, with full justification for why it may prove to have the most potential going forward.

- Finally, you get two pages of ratios and financial data computed from the most current information available. Not only do you get the ratios, but you get the benefit of seeing the input numbers as well. In this way you can manipulate the numbers anyway you like! This section alone is a goldmine of information, over 30 financial ratios are clearly laid out so you can see how the companies compare to each other within the industry. This gives a clear picture of the current valuation for the companies and exposes possible undervalued situations as well.

All this information is supported by our twin online areas tailor made for subscribers, both on America Online and on the World Wide Web. The areas include important follow-up news items on the companies that are featured in the Industry Snapshot. It is in this manner that investors can track the performance of the stocks over time as news unfolds. In addition, the online sites contain links to research areas and message boards where you can communicate with industry experts and fellow subscribers.

Industry Snapshot is a 24-hour, interactive stock picking school. Unlike a book where you may read the information and forget it, Industry Snapshot provides the opportunity to receive an ongoing education. There is no other system like this available to individual investors that serves the needs of novice and sophisticate alike. This six-page newsletter comes out every Friday evening and can be delivered to either your e-mail box or fax machine. If you're still not sure Industry Snapshot is right for you, download our free sample issue and take a look for yourself. Fool on!

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