Stock Screening Made Simple: A Closer Look

Group 1 - Stock screening is a common tool used by investors to navigate the overwhelming number of options available, similar to creating a grocery list [1][9] - The screening process can be tailored to individual preferences, as there is no one-size-fits-all approach [2] - Parameters in stock screening can be fine-tuned for various investing styles, including momentum, value, growth, and income [3] Group 2 - Value investors can utilize parameters such as Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio, and Price-to-Book (P/B) ratio to identify high-quality stocks trading at a discount [4] - Momentum investing focuses on stocks that have experienced buying pressure, with parameters like percentage price change over the last month and average volume [5] - Growth investing targets companies expected to grow sales and earnings at above-average levels, using parameters like last year's earnings growth rates and expected growth rates for the current year [6][7] Group 3 - Income-focused investing emphasizes dividend-paying stocks, which are often more stable and represent mature companies sharing profits with shareholders [8][10] - Parameters for searching dividend-paying stocks include current dividend yield and the 5-year historical dividend growth rate [10] - Zacks offers many pre-built custom screens for various investment strategies, making the screening process smoother for investors [9][11]