Your Money Mentor Minute

Introduction

Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Money Mentor Minute! This week, I’m covering the topic on “How to Analyze a Stock/ETF” in 10 minutes so you can determine on if to invest in it or not. Let’s get started!

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How to Analyze a Stock Like a Pro in 10 Minutes!

1. Fundamental Analysis (4 minutes):

Fundamentals help you understand the financial health of a company. Here’s what to check first.

✅ Revenue & Earnings Growth – Is the company making more money over time? Look at revenue and earnings per share (EPS) growth over the last 3-5 years.

✅ P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) – Is the stock overvalued or undervalued compared to peers? A lower P/E compared to the industry average can signal a good buying opportunity.

✅ ROE (Return on Equity) & ROA (Return on Assets) – These measure profitability and how efficiently a company uses its assets.

✅ Debt Levels – Look at the debt-to-equity ratio. High debt can be risky in a downturn.

✅ Dividend Yield (if applicable) – Does the stock pay dividends, and are they sustainable?

Example: Palantir ($PLTR) vs. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ($VOO)

• $PLTR: Strong revenue growth but not yet having a long history of being profitable, meaning potential higher risk.

• $VOO: Well-diversified and mirrors the S&P 500, offering stability & diversification.

2. Technical Analysis (3 minutes):

✅ Moving Averages (50-day & 200-day) – Is the stock trending up or down?

✅ Relative Strength Index (RSI) – An RSI above 70 means overbought (consider selling); below 30 means oversold (potential buying opportunity).

✅ Support & Resistance Levels – Identify price levels where the stock repeatedly bounces or struggles to go higher.

Example: Looking at $PLTR, if it's trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, it suggests bullish momentum. $VOO, being an ETF, typically moves with the broader market, making technicals less critical but still useful for timing entries.

3. Qualitative Analysis (3 minutes):

Beyond the numbers, qualitative factors help determine a company’s long-term potential.

✅ Industry Trends – Is the sector growing? AI stocks like $PLTR have tailwinds, while ETFs like $VOO provide diversification.

✅ Competitive Advantage – What makes the company unique? Does it have a strong moat (e.g., Apple’s ecosystem or Microsoft’s software dominance)?

✅ Management & Leadership – Is the CEO known for innovation or questionable decisions?

6 Red Flags to Look Out For:

🚨 Declining Revenue & Earnings – Consistent financials losses over time can signal BIG trouble.

🚨 High Debt Levels – Too much debt can easily lead to financial instability. Look to see how much cash the company has “on-hand” and how long its expected to last.

🚨 Unsustainable Dividends – If a company pays out more than it earns, dividends will most likely be cut.

🚨 Management Red Flags – Frequent leadership changes or scandals are red flags. Look out for Board Members resigning suddenly, or having insiders selling large chunks of their stocks.

🚨 Stock Dilution – Companies issuing too many new shares can reduce shareholder value, and reduce participation.

🚨 Overvaluation – A sky-high P/E ratio compared to peers can mean a stock is overpriced.

📖 Additional Tools and Resources to Help You Analyze Stocks:

• Yahoo Finance – Quick access to stock fundamentals and charts.

• Morningstar – Detailed stock & ETF analysis, fair value estimates.

• TradingView – Advanced charting for technical analysis.

• Seeking Alpha – Investor insights and earnings analysis.

3 Stocks to Practice Analyzing Today

📌 Tesla ($TSLA) – A growth stock with volatility. Check its P/E ratio and moving averages.
📌 Palantir ($PLTR) – A high-growth, AI-driven company. Look at revenue trends and profitability potential.
📌 Microsoft ($MSFT) – A stable tech giant. Check its competitive advantage and dividend yield.

Further Reading & Learning

📖 “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham – A must-read on value investing.
📖 “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” by Philip Fisher – Great insights on qualitative stock analysis.

Final Thoughts & Actionable Tip

Stock analysis doesn’t have to take hours. By breaking it down into fundamentals, technicals, and qualitative factors, you can make better investment decisions in just 10 minutes. Start by analyzing Tesla ($TSLA), Palantir ($PLTR), and Microsoft ($MSFT) today and see how they measure up!

Have questions or want personalized guidance? Let’s chat! Schedule a free consultation today.

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Until next time, here’s to building the life you deserve!

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Your Money Mentor Minute: Quick Wins

Quick Win: Contest Your Property Taxes Every Year.

• How to Do It:

  1. Review Your Property Tax Assessment:

  • Go online to see a copy of your property tax assessment from your local county tax assessor’s office.

  2. File an Appeal:

  • Gather documentation, such as comparable property data, photos, or receipts for repairs that reduce your home’s value (this is optional if using a service to auto contest for you, but it helps).

  • Submit a formal appeal to your local tax authority before the deadline, which varies by location.

  • Use an automated service like Ownwell.com or one that’s similar in your neck of the woods. Simply Google: “Property contesting company online [enter your state]”.

  Example:

  • A homeowner contests their property taxes and successfully reduces the assessed value by $25,000.

  • At a 2.5% tax rate, this saves $625 annually—money that can go toward savings or paying down debt.

  • The online services do EVERYTHING for you, including going to court so you don’t have to.

  • If they are able to reduce your property taxes, then you pay a % of the tax reduction amount as a fee. Depending on the company, I have seen fees range between 25% & 50%. Example- $500 in property taxes saved. Fee is 50%. Thus you pay $250 for their work, and you save the additional $250. A Win/Win all around!!

  • If they are unable to reduce your taxes, then you pay NOTHING. There is ZERO risk to you!!

  Solution: Contesting your property taxes may sound intimidating, but it’s worth the effort. Take an hour this week to review your assessment and explore potential savings. With consistent appeals, you can ensure you’re not overpaying year after year.

  Need help getting started or navigating the process? Reach out—I’m here to guide you!

Your Additional Resources and Tools

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• Mint – The Ultimate Budgeting App. Tracks your spending, categorizes expenses, and helps set budgeting goals. Free and easy to use, and offers alerts for bill payments and spending limits.

• Pair Mint with a savings app/platform like Oportun to automate unused funds into an emergency or investment account.

About the Author, Marc Marquez

I’ve spent over 24 years in the financial services industry as a fiduciary and fully licensed Financial Advisor, helping clients plan for and protect what's most important to them. With having earned my MBA, RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) and CLTC® (Certified in Long-Term Care) designations, I bring a wealth of knowledge to assist people just like you in navigating the complexities of building wealth, retirement, personal financial growth and getting out of debt.

My approach with this newsletter is focused on educating others, and I’m passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their own financial futures. Whether you’re planning for retirement, learning how to invest for growth, or simply managing debt, I'll take the time necessary to break down the complex financial concepts into simple, actionable steps. My mission isn’t just to offer help; it’s to teach YOU how to manage and grow your own money independently, with the confidence to make educated and informed decisions. I would like you to no longer have a fear of getting ahead and a fear of money, and I will show you how to turn your money fears or concerns into action!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational & informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with your prefered financial advisor for personal advice, or contact me directly for a free initial consultation.

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