The price to earnings ratio compares a stock price with the company profit. See how to calculate it and where it can mislead you.

A quick routine for scanning a quarterly report: revenue, profit, cash, debt and what management says about the road ahead.

Dividends are payments some companies make to shareholders. Learn the key dates, how yield works, and what to watch.

Market cap tells you the size of a company in the eyes of the market. Here is how to calculate it and what the size groups mean.

Every number on a stock quote page explained in plain words: price, bid, ask, volume, range and more.

Three common ways to invest, how each works, what they cost, and which tends to suit different goals.

What you need to open a brokerage account, how to compare brokers, and the first settings to check.

A plain explanation of exchanges, brokers, buyers and sellers, and how prices are set each day.

A stock is a small piece of a company. Here is what that means, how people make or lose money, and how to start learning.

A calm, step by step way to approach stocks and options: set your risk first, learn how each works, and start small.