Financial metrics and filings, explained

What each number on StockData measures, how we calculate it from SEC filings, and where it can mislead. Every guide links to the pages where you can see it for real companies.

• P/E ratio: what it measures, formula, and how to use it

  Learn how the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio works, how to calculate it from SEC filings with a worked example, and how to compare P/E across industries.

• EV/EBITDA and enterprise value: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate enterprise value and EV/EBITDA, walk through a worked example, compare industry ranges, and avoid common valuation pitfalls.

• Free cash flow and free cash flow yield: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate free cash flow and free cash flow yield from SEC filings, interpret typical industry ranges, and spot common accounting pitfalls.

• Gross, operating and net margin: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate and interpret gross, operating and net profit margins, compare them across industries, and spot common accounting traps.

• Return on equity and the DuPont analysis: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate return on equity (ROE) and use the three-step DuPont analysis to break profitability into margin, turnover, and leverage.

• Piotroski F-Score: what it measures, the 9 tests, and how to use it

  Learn how the Piotroski F-Score grades financial strength across nine accounting tests, with the formula, a full worked example, and key limitations.

• Dividend yield, payout ratio and dividend growth: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate and interpret dividend yield, payout ratio, and dividend growth, including free cash flow coverage and ex-dividend dates.

• Trailing twelve months (TTM): how it works and how fourth-quarter numbers are derived

  Learn how trailing twelve months (TTM) metrics are calculated from SEC filings, how fourth-quarter numbers are derived, and how to use TTM data.

• Form 13F filings: what they disclose and how to follow superinvestors

  Learn what SEC Form 13F filings disclose, how the $100M reporting rule and 45-day deadline work, and how to track superinvestor portfolios accurately.

• Insider buying and selling: what Forms 4 and 144 show and how to use them

  Learn how to read SEC Form 4 and Form 144 filings, decode insider transaction codes, evaluate cluster buys, and separate real signals from noise.

• 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K: the SEC filings behind company financials

  Learn how 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K SEC filings work, when companies file them, how to calculate fourth-quarter results, and where to find key disclosures.

• Price-to-book ratio and book value per share: what they measure and how to use them

  Learn how to calculate the price-to-book ratio and book value per share, compare P/B multiples across industries, and avoid common valuation traps.

• XBRL: how financial statements become data, and why numbers can differ between sources

  Learn how XBRL turns SEC filings into structured financial data, how tags work, and why revenue, EPS, and TTM figures can differ across websites.