Vanity: Comparing investment analysis tools

05-02-04 | self

[Eccl 10:2]

I recently signed up for a seminar to learn how to use a newly developed investment analysis tool. The tool is a database search software that allows for very comprehensive and fast fundamental and technical analysis database searches on practically every stock and mutual fund traded in the US. There are dozens of pre-packaged searches, or you can develop your own. It's much better and far more comprehensive than anything I've seen that is available for free.

Here's the catch: The course is $1000 and the software is $50/month. You can't get the software without attending the course.

So my question to my fellow Freepers is: what is your experience with other software tools out there. Are they effective? How much do they cost? Is there a better value out there?

[Eccl 10:2]

Please chime in with your comments and experiences. Perhaps we all could benefit.

[Glenn]

Is there a better value out there?

Darts.

There is no crystal ball to tell you who the winners are. There may be some to warn you against losers, however.

[lchoro]

You might try wallstreetcity.com. the drawback of using searches every time you decide to make purchases is that you have little background knowledge or experience with the stock, including getting a feel for how the stock trades over time. most will develop a short and stable watchlist of companies or exchange-traded funds so that the company background is easier to follow.

[FairOpinion]

If you do not already have an in-depth familiarity about the various tools, so you could assess reality from hype, it sounds a bit rash to shell out $1000.


You may want to check out AAII -- American Association of Individual Investors.

http://www.aaii.com/


They are non-profit, reasonable membership fee, and you can get a lot of screening software free or nearly free from them. They also frequently assess various investment software and approaches. I think they also have local seminars occasionally (for members)

As a first step, before shelling out $1000 for some unknown software, I would check them out.

You also may want to provide here the name of the company/software you are considering, maybe some people have heard of it and can give you specific feedback on that particular software.

Check out:

http://www.investware.com/index.asp

on the left on software.

They are affiliated with AAII and NAIC (National Association of Investor's Corporation), another investor non-profit organization. Click

[Sam Cree]

bump

[Sam Cree]

Ben Graham, and the fundamentals?

[jjackson]

It sounds like the folks selling the software have found themselves a more profitable racket than using their own software to invest their own dollars.

[So Cal Rocket]

[Choose Ye This Day]

Good idea. Pick up a copy of "The Intelligent Investor" by Graham, study it thoroughly, and find some well managed companies that you believe in. Buy and hold, and don't get scared out unless the fundamentals change.

Either that, or find a mutual fund where the manager will do the same thing, if you don't want to go through the hassle.

At $1000 to start, and another $50 a month, you've got a pretty good idea who is going to make money in this arrangement--and it's not the people who BUY the software.

[PeterPrinciple]

I have been intrigued by StocksAtBottom. This is the only newsletter I know of that posts their recommendation histories.

http://www.stocksatbottom.com/new/asubscriber.htm


They seem to be real to me. Anyone else have experience with SAB?