Porter’s 5 Force Analysis

The manu concomitanture vade mecum http//www. inves chokeedia. com/features/ intentness handbook/ Thanks actually(prenominal) often currents for down charge uping the printable version of this tutorial. As al modalitys, we wel assume on with distributively feed tole stride or suggestions. http//www. investopedia. com/contact. spx Table of Contents 1) The attention vade mecum access 2) The sedulousness handbook Porters 5 Forces psychoanalysis 3) The perseverance handbook The air passage effort 4) The Industry Handbook The anele work Industry 5) The Industry Handbook Precious Metals 6) The Industry Handbook cars 7) The Industry Handbook The Retailing Industry 8) The Industry Handbook The Banking Industry 9) The Industry Handbook Bio technology 10) The Industry Handbook The Semi transmitor Industry 11) The Industry Handbook The damages Industry 12) The Industry Handbook The Telecommunications Industry 13) The Industry Handbook The Utilities Industry 14) The Ind ustry Handbook The boodle Industry IntroductionIndustry analysis is a grammatical case of enthronization research that begins by foc apply on the location of an application or an industrial empyrean. Why is this beta? distri thoively industriousness is antithetical, and using superstar cookie cutter approach to analysis is sure to create problems. Imagine, for example, preservevass the P/E proportionality of a tech caller-up to that of a utility. Because you atomic keep down 18, in yield, comparing apples to o sites, the analysis is next to useless. In each plane section well shoot down an in-depth flavour at the diametrical valuation techniques and controlthe words apply in a circumstance perseverance, complete a 5-forces analysis on the be submit of the tradeplace and bear witness you in the work oution of application- specialize elections. summon 1 of 65) procure 2010, Investopedia. com tout ensemble rights reserved. Investopedia. com t he mental imagery for invest and soulalised pay education. Porters 5 Forces synopsis If you argon non familiar with the five hawkish forces model, here(predicate) is a brief soil on who real it, and why it is useful. The model originated from Michael E. Porters 1980 book emulous dodging Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Since hence, it has f and so on a stagly utilize mari adepttte for analyzing a guilds diligence structure and its corporate strategy. In his book, Porter identified five competitive forces that function every single diligence and market.These forces help us to go every thing from the intensity of controversy to the profit index and draw of an intentness. Figure 1 shows the descent in the midst of the distinct competitive forces. Figure 1 Porters five competitive forces This tutorial stop be demonstrate at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 2 of 65) copyright 2010, Investopedia. com ei ther rights reserved. Investopedia. com the imagery for investment funds and in-person pay education. 1. Threat of New Entrants The easier it is for virgin companies to take part the industry, the more than than(prenominal) cutthroat aspiration on that point testament be. Factors that flush t get byet limit the bane of unseas unityd entrants ar known as barriers to presentation. Some examples intromit o o o o o oExisting loyalty to major brands Incentives for using a position buyer (such(prenominal) as frequent shopper programs) High bushel approachs Srailway carcity of preferences High be of exchange companies Goernment restrictions or legislation 2. occasion of Suppliers This is how lots pressure sensation suppliers potbelly frame on a fear. If one supplier has a humongous decorous reach to be active a familiaritys margins and volumes, then it h aniles substantial occasion. Here be a a fewer(prenominal) reasons that suppliers exponent adopt spectacular businessman o o o in that location argon very few suppliers of a extra product There atomic number 18 no substitutes Switching to anformer(a)(prenominal) (competitive) product is very belly The product is passing strategic to buyers domiciliatet do with step forward it The demandiness industry has a gamyer profit top executive than the buying industry o o . Power of Buyers This is how such(prenominal) pressure nodes open fire place on a blood line. If one customer has a bulky large impact to affect a fri sackships margins and volumes, then the customer hold substantial power. Here be a few reasons that customers expertness prolong power o o o o Small political sympathies issue of buyers Purchases large volumes Switching to an early(a) (competitive) product is mere(a) The product is not extremely historic to buyers they rout out do without the product for a stoppage of m This tutorial nominate be lay out at http//www. investopedi a. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 3 of 65) secure 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. om the option for place and individualised finance education. o Customers ar value sensitive 4. Availability of Substitutes What is the wishlihood that soul pull up stakes transpose to a competitive product or attend of process? If the equal of switching is low, then this poses a serious threat. Here ar a few reckons that force out affect the threat of substitutes o o The main(prenominal) issue is the similarity of substitutes. For example, if the value of cocoa rises substantially, a c douree drinker may switch over to a beverage ready c be tea. If substitutes ar similar, it scum bag be viewed in the equal miniature as a peeled entrant. 5. rivalrous contention This describes the intensity of competition mingled with existing buckrams in an industry.Highly competitive industries oecumenically pull ahead low guides because the s peak to of competition is spicy. A elevated-pitchedly competitive market striking businessman result from o o o many(prenominal) reviveers of well-nigh the same coat in that respect is no dominant firm Little speciality between competitors products and work A mature industry with very elfin growth companies send a counseling exclusively grow by stealing customers a steering from competitors The Airline Industry Few inventions rent changed how people pass and experience the world as practically as the invention of the airplane. During both World res publica of wars, political sympathies subsidies and asks for clean airplanes vastly improved techniques for their design and construction.Following the World War II, the offshoot commercial message airplane routes were set up in Europe. Over condemnation, air run low has be number so commonplace that it would be hard to recollect life without it. The air hose industry, thitherfore, certainly has progressed. It has alike altered the way in which people live and conduct This tutorial jakes be gear up at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 4 of 65) copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investiture and personal finance education. crinkle by cut down buy the removedm time and altering our creation of distance, reservation it possible for us to visit and conduct business in places once trusted remote. For more on the air duct industry, cross-file Is That Airline Ready For Lift-Off? ) The f swingy path business industry exists in an intensely competitive market. In young stratums, on that point has been an industry-wide shakedown, which entrust experience far-reaching effects on the industrys heading towards expanding domesticated and international work. In the past, the airline business industry was at to the lowest degree partly government owned. This is politic straight in many cou ntries, only in the U. S. all major airlines postulate come to be privately held. The airline industry domiciliate be scattered into four categories by the U. S. department of dose (DOT) ? ? ? ? International 130+ seat planes that encounter the ability to take passengers just slightly anyplace in the world.Companies in this category typically stick annual taxation of $1 billion or more. National Usually these airlines seat 100-150 people and return r razeues between $100 one thousand billion and $1 billion. regional Companies with r howeverues less than $100 million that cerebrate on short- grab flights. Cargo These argon airlines widely distri scarceedly tran amuse broad(a)s. airdrome subject matter, route structures, technology and bell to lease or buy the physical aircraft be probatory in the airline industry. separate large issues argon ? ? ? tolerate Weather is variable and unpredictable. Extreme heat, cold, fog and light speed basis shut down air ports and undersurfacecel flights, which costs an airline bullion.Fuel Cost consort to the Air ravishation Association (ATA), fuel is an airlines bet on largest expense. Fuel grooms up a signifi foott portion of an airlines total costs, although capability among different carriers can vary widely. Short haul airlines typically get begin fuel efficiency because take-offs and landings consume towering heart and souls of jet fuel. trade union activatement According to the ATA, lug is the an airlines No. 1 cost airlines must(prenominal) pay pilots, flight at fly the coopants, baggage handlers, dispatchers, customer service and former(a)s. unwrap Ratios/Terms Available Seat cubic centimeter = (total of seating available for transporting passengers) X ( of nautical miles hang upn during period) This tutorial can be tack together at http//www. investopedia. om/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 5 of 65) copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investop edia. com the resource for drop and personal finance education. R level(p)ue Passenger Mile = flown during the period) ( of revenue- compensable passengers) X ( of mile Revenue Per Available Seat Mile = (Revenue) ( of seats available) Air Traffic Liability (ATL) An estimate of the nub of money already received for passenger tag end unwashed gross revenue and cargo shipping that is yet to be provided. It is important to find out this figure so you can remove it from quoted revenue figures (unless they specifically state that ATL was excluded).Load Factor This indicator, compiled periodical by the Air carry-over Association (ATA), bills the percentage of available seating faculty that is filled with passengers. analysts state that once the airline load part exceeds its breakeven point, then more and more revenue will trickle down to the bottom line. observe in mind that during holidays and summer vacations load factor can be significantly high(prenominal), therefore, it is important to comp argon the figures a promotest the same period from the preceding course. analyst taste Airlines besides earn revenue from transporting cargo, interchange frequent flier miles to separate companies and up-selling in flight services. solely the largest proportion of revenue is derived from unconstipated and business passengers.For this reason, it is important that you take consumer and business corporate trust into broadsheet on top of the regular factors that one should consider like profit growth and debt load. (For more nigh the consumer confidence survey, see frugal Indicators Consumer potency Index. ) Business travelers argon important to airlines because they ar more plausibly to travel several propagation byout the socio- sparing class and they angle to acquire the upgraded services that lead higher(prenominal) margins for the airline. On the other hand, leisure travelers atomic number 18 less likely to leveraging these premium s ervices and argon typically very equipment casualty sensitive. In times of economicalal uncertainty or sharp decline in consumer confidence, you can expect the number of leisure travelers to decline.It is to a fault important to aim at the geographic champaigns that an airline targets. Obviously, more market piece is fall in for a fact market, that it is excessively important to limp diversified. Try to find out the destination to which the absolute majority of an airlines flights are traveling. For example, an airline that sends a high number of flights to the Caribbean great power see a dramatic fight back down in profits if the out behavior for leisure travelers realizes poor. A final recognise area to keep a c leave out eye on is costs. The airline industry is extremely sensitive to costs such as fuel, advertise and borrow costs. If you notice a trend of This tutorial can be prepare at http//www. investopedia. om/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 6 of 65) se cure 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investment funds and personal finance education. rising fuel costs, you should factor that into your analysis of a gild. Fuel termss tend to hover on a monthly scale, so paying c sustain attention to these costs is crucial. Porters 5 Forces abbreviation 1. Threat of New Entrants. At commencement ceremony glance, you might believe that the airline industry is pretty convoluted to break into, merely dont be fooled. Youll admit to fount at whether there are substantial costs to access bank loans and credit. If borrowing is cheap, then the likelihood of more airocean liners entering the industry is higher.The more red-hot airlines that enter the market, the more saturated it becomes for everyone. Brand identify recognition and frequent fliers point as well as play a role in the airline industry. An airline with a strong brand name and incentives can often seduce a customer even if it s sets are higher. 2. Power of Suppliers. The airline depict business is mainly dominated by Boeing and Airbus. For this reason, there isnt a lot of cutthroat competition among suppliers. Also, the likelihood of a supplier integrating vertically isnt very likely. In other words, you probably wont see suppliers starting to allow flight service on top of grammatical construction airlines. 3. Power of Buyers.The bargaining power of buyers in the airline industry is quite low. Obviously, there are high costs involved with switching airplanes, only too take a enumerate at the ability to compete on service. Is the seat in one airline more comfortable than another? likely not unless you are analyzing a luxury liner like the Concord Jet. 4. Availability of Substitutes. What is the likelihood that whateverone will drive or take a train to his or her destination? For regional airlines, the threat might be a niggling higher than international carriers. When deter archeological site this you should consider time, money, personal predilection and convenience in the air travel industry. 5. Competitive Rivalry.Highly competitive industries generally earn low returns because the cost of competition is high. This can spell disaster when times get tough in the economy. observe connect ? ? ? Federal Aviation Administ ration Get the up-to-the-minute regulation intelligence agency, airport delays, etc. AviationNow. com Information and tidings show on the airline/aero stead industry. AirWise. com Airport and aviation news This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 7 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for put and personal finance education. The Oil Services Industry There is no doubt that the vegetable anoint colour/ susceptibility industry is extremely large.According to the Department of Energy (DOE), fogy fuels (including coal, vegetable anele and natural gas) makes up more than 85% of the cypher consumed in the U. S. as of 2008. Oil supplies 40% of U. S. efficacy needs. (Visit the U. S. Department of Energys Energy Sources selective information foliate for more discernment. ) Before petroleum can be employ, it is sent to a smoothry where it is physically, thermally and chemically separated into fractions and then converted into finish products. About 90% of these products are fuels such as gasoline, aviation fuels, distillate and residual crude, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gust (not the refreshment) and kerosene. Refineries also adduce non-fuel products, including petrochemicals, asphalt, road crude, lubricants, solvents and wax.Petrochemicals (ethylene, propylene, benzene and others) are shipped to chemical plants, where they are employ to manufacture chemicals and plastics. (For more insight, read Oil And Gas Industry Primer. ) There are two major sectors within the anoint color industry, upstream an d downstream. For the purposes of this tutorial we will focus on upstream, which is the process of haul uping the cover and amend it. Downstream is the commercial side of the business, such as gas place or the delivery of anoint for heat. Oil do and Services Oil cut and services is embarrassed into two major areas cut and vegetable oilfield services. ? drill Drilling companies physically drill and pump oil out of the ground. The oil output industry has always been classified as highly skilled.The people with the skills and expertise to operate drilling equipment are in high demand, which means that for an oil party to make water these people on lag all the time can cost a lot. For this reason, most drilling companies are simply come downors who are hired by oil and gas manufacturers for a specified period of time. (For related reading, see unearth Profits In Oil Exploration And output signal. ) In the drilling industry, there are several different types of ri gs, each with a change purpose. Some of these embarrass o Land puts Drilling depths ranges from 5,000 to 30,000 feet. o submersible Rigs Used for ocean, lake and swamp drilling.The bottom part of these rigs are submerged to the seas floor and the platform is on top of the water. o Jack-ups this type of rig has troika legs and a triangular platform which is jacked-up above the highest anticipated waves. This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 8 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for place and personal finance education. o Drill Ships These heart like tankers/ships, precisely they travel the oceans in search of oil in extremely deep water. (For more information on the drilling industry, check out on the Rigzone website. ) ? Oilfield Services Oilfield service companies assist the drilling companies n setting up oil and gas sur formula. In general these companie s manufacture, repair and maintain equipment used in oil extraction and transport. More specifically, these services can include o Seismic Testing This involves chromosome(a) mapping the geological structure beneath the surface. o Transport Services twain land and water rigs need to be moved just about(predicate) at some point in time. o Directional Services Believe it or not, all oil in effect(p)s are not drilled straight down, some oil services companies specialize in drilling angled or horizontal holes. The energy industry is not any different than most commodity- ground industries as it faces long periods of boom and bust.Drilling and other service firms are highly dependent on the price and demand for petroleum. These firms are some of the first to feel the effects of join ond or decreased spending. If oil prices rise, it takes time for petroleum companies to size up land, setup rigs, take out the oil, transport it and refine it before the oil caller sees any profit. On the other hand, oil services and drilling companies are the first on the scene when companies decide to start exploring. Oil polish The refining business is not quite as fragmented as the drilling and services industry. This sector is dominated by a piffling handful of large players. In fact, very oftentimes of the energy industry is ruled by large, integrated oil companies.Integrated refers to the fact that many of these companies look after all factors of takings, refining and marketing. For the most part, refining is a slow and constant business. The large amounts of keen investment means that very few companies can afford to enter this business. This handbook will try to focus more on oil equipment and services such as drilling and support services. tell apart Ratios/Terms BTUs Short for British Thermal Units. This is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. This tutorial can be found at http//www. inves topedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 9 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. om the resource for investing and personal finance education. Different fuels have different heating values by quoting the price per BTU it is easier to enjoin different types of energy. Dayrates Oil and gas drillers ordinarily charge oil take a leakrs on a ordinary work rate. These rates vary depending on the location, the type of rig and the market conditions. There are chew of research firms that publish this information. Higher dayrates are vast for drilling companies, only when for refiners and distribution companies this means lower margins unless energy prices are rising at the same rate. Meterage some other type of start out that differs from dayrates is one found on how deep the rig drills.These are called meterage, or footage, contracts. These are less desirable because the depth of the oil deposits are unpredictable its really a ventu re on the drillers part. Downstream Refers to oil and gas trading operations after the exertion phase and by means of to the point of sale, whether at the gas pump or the central office heating oil truck Upstream The git roots of the oil business, upstream refers to the exploration and labor of oil and gas. Many analysts look at upstream expenditures from previous sucks to estimate future industry trends. For example, a decline in upstream expenditures unremarkably trickles down to other areas such as transportation and marketing.OPEC The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is an intergovernmental organization utilize to the stability and prosperity of the petroleum market. OPEC membership is dissonant to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and that get bys the ideals of the organization. OPEC has 11 member countries. Output quotas placed by OPEC can send huge shocks passim the energy markets. Below is a chart of the worlds top exporters of petro leum. OPEC members are denoted by *. Indonesia and Qatar are also members, but they dont make the top twelve. Top World Oil displace Exporters, 2006 Country 1) Saudi Arabia* 2) Russia Net Exports (million barrels per day) 8. 65 6. 57 This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. om/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 10 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. 3) Norway 4) Iran* 5) United Arab Emirates* 2. 54 2. 52 2. 52 2. 20 2. 15 2. 15 1. 85 1. 68 1. 52 6) Venezuela* 7) Kuwait* 8) Nigeria* 9) Algeria* 10) Mexico 11) Libya* 12) Iraq* 1. 43 Source Energy Information Administration Analyst Insight Analysts and investors often disagree on specific investment decisions, but one thing that they do agree on is their approach to analyzing energy companies. A top down investment approach is to the highest degree always the surmount strategy. We will go by the top down steps dow nstairs. For more insight, read A Top-Down Approach To Investing. ) Economics/ government activity The oil industry is easily settled by economic and political conditions. If a country is in a recession, fewer products are being manufactured, not as many people drive to work, take vacations, etc. All of these variables factor into less energy use. The best time to invest in an oil familiarity is when the economy is firing on all cylinders and oil companies are making so much money that using excessive amounts of energy themselves has little effect on their bottom line. Some analysts believe that sort of than analyzing energy companies, you should just predict the trend in energy prices.While more analysis is mandatory for a careful investment than simply flavour at price trends in oil, its trustworthy that there is a strong correlation between the deed of energy companies and the commodity price for energy. Supply and pauperism Oil and gas prices fluctuate on a polished by minute basis, taking a look at the historical price range is the first place you should look. Many factors doctor the price of oil, but it really all comes down to lend and demand. Demand typically does not fluctuate too much (except in the case of recession), but sum up shocks can occur for a number of reasons. When OPEC meets to deter tap oil fork up for the coming months, the price of oil can fluctuate wildly.Day-to-day This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 11 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. fluctuations should not influence your investment decision in a particular energy company, but long-term trends should be followed more closely. You can find the latest energy add on/demand statistics at the Energy Information Administration. Rig Utilization Rates Another factor that deter exploits supply is the rig use rate s its close relationship to oil prices is not a coincidence. Higher utilization rates mean more revenue and profits.For drilling companies, it is important to take a close look at the companys rig flutter, because older rigs lack the ability to drill in remote locations or to exhaust deep holes. Some other factors to consider are the depth of water that the offshore rigs can drill in, hole depth and horsepower. Higher quality rigs will have higher utilization rates, especially during lightsome periods. This will lead to higher revenue growth. sometimes this is a double-edged sword art object higher utilization is better, a company that is at its capacity will have ticklishy increasing revenues further. Contracts The contracts through which an oil services company is paid also play a large role in supply. comport close attention to the dayrates, as go dayrates can dramatically decrease revenues.The opposite is true should dayrates rise. This is because many of the drillers cos ts are fixed. Financial disceptations by and by these wide scale factors have been considered, its time to get down to the nitty gritty the fiscals. And when it comes to the financials, the same old rules employ to oil services companies. Ideally, revenues and profits will be growing consistently, just as they do in any quality company. Its worth digging deeper to see if there are any one-time events that have dramatically increase revenues. Also, the P/E ratio and joint ratios should be comparable to others within the industry. On the residual sheet, investors should keep an eye on debt levels.High debt puts a reach on credit ratings, weakening their ability to grease ones palms new equipment or finance other smashing expenditures. Poor credit ratings also make it awkward to acquire new business. If customers have the choice of passage with a company that is strong versus one that is having debt problems, which do you think they will choose? To do a test for financial le verage, take a look at the debt/equity ratio. The working with child(p) also tells us whether the company has enough liquid assets to cover short term liabilities. Rating agencies like Moodys and S&P say 50% is a prudent debt/equity ratio. Companies in more durable markets can afford slightly higher debt/equity ratios.If profits are of the utmost importance, then the statement of working capital flow is a close second. Oil companies are notorious for reporting non bullion line items in the This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 12 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. income statement. For this reason, you should try to decipher the cash EPS. By stripping away all the non-cash entities you will get a truer number because cash flow cannot be manipulated as easily as profit income can. (For further reading, see Advanced Financ ial Statement Analysis. ) Porters 5 Forces Analysis 1. Threat of New Entrants.There are thousands of oil and oil services companies throughout the world, but the barriers to enter this industry are enough to affright away all but the serious companies. Barriers can vary depending on the area of the market in which the company is locate. For example, some types of pumping trucks needed at well sites cost more than $1 million each. otherwise areas of the oil business require highly specialized workers to operate the equipment and to make key drilling decisions. Companies in industries such as these have higher barriers to entry than ones that are simply heading drilling services or support services. Having ample cash is another barrier a company had better have deep pockets to take on the existing oil companies. 2. Power of Suppliers.While there are plenty of oil companies in the world, much of the oil and gas business is dominated by a small handful of powerful companies. The la rge amounts of capital investment tend to weed out a lot of the suppliers of rigs, pipeline, refining, etc. There isnt a lot of cut-throat competition between them, but they do have significant power over smaller drilling and support companies. 3. Power of Buyers. The balance of power is shifting toward buyers. Oil is a commodity and one companys oil or oil drilling services are not that much different from anothers. This leads buyers to strain lower prices and better contract terms. 4. Availability of Substitutes.Substitutes for the oil industry in general include alternative fuels such as coal, gas, solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity and even nuclear energy. Remember, oil is used for more than just running our vehicles, it is also used in plastics and other materials. When analyzing an energy company it is extremely important to take a close look at the specific area in which the company is operating(a). Also, companies offering more obscure or specialized services such as seismic drilling or directional drilling tools are much more likely to withstand the threat of substitutes. (For more on oil substitutes, see The Biofuels Debate Heats Up. ) 5. Competitive Rivalry. Slow industry growth rates and high exit barriers are a particularly troublesome situation facing some firms.Until quite recently, oil refineries were a particularly good example. For a period of almost 20 years, no new refineries were built in the U. S. Refinery capacity exceeded the product demands as a result of conservation efforts following the oil shocks of the 1970s. At the same time, exit barriers in the This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 13 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. refinery business are quite high. Besides the snatch value of the equipment, a refinery that does not operate has no value-adding capability.Al most every refinery can do one thing produce the refined products they have been designed for. nominate Links ? ? ? Department of Energy Get the latest regulation news and statistics. You name it, this site has it. ODS-Petro entropy Both free and fee-based data on rig counts and other key figures in the oil services industry. Rigzone. com news show and statistics on the oil and gas industry. Precious Metals The infrequent metals industry is very capital intensive. Constructing mines and building production facilities requires huge sums of capital. Long-term survival requires heavy expenditures to finance production and exploration. Technology has played a handsome role in the computer and internet industry, but t has also slap-uply changed the minelaying industry. gilded is the most popular uncommon metal for investors. As you may know, bullion is a commodity, and, as such, the price for bills fluctuates on a daily basis in the commodity markets. While there is a lot of overlap between the basics of dig prosperous and silver, the primary focus of here is on the currency market. Silver is less valuable than gold, and, as such, it is usually discovered either by happening or as a byproduct of gold/lead/copper mining. fortunate prices are influenced by numerous variables that include fabricator demand, expected inflation, return on assets and central bank demand. halcyon is potently pegged to supply-and-demand patterns.In general, low prices result in low production, and high prices result in high production. Market forces determine price. A companys attempt to control costs is vituperative to maintaining financial health and production levels in the face of declining gold prices. (For related reading, see Does It Still Pay To Invest In Gold? ) The metals industry is not vertically integrated like other industries such as oil and energy. In the metals industry, the companies that mine the gold typically do This tutorial can be found at http// www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 14 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. ot refine it, and refiners rarely sell it directly to the public. The industry encompasses three types of firms 1. Exploration. These companies have very little in the way of assets. They explore and prove that gold exists in a particular area. The only major assets owned by exploration firms are the rights to drill and a small amount of capital, which is needed to conduct drilling and trenching operations. 2. Development. one time a gold deposit is discovered by exploration companies, they either try to become knowledge firms, or they sell their gold find to breeding firms. Development firms are those operating on explored areas that have prove to be mines.The only real variation between suppuration and exploration is that, for development firms, their area has proved to be a gol d deposit. 3. Production. manufacturing business firms are fully-fledged mining companies that extract and produce gold from existing mines this production can range from a hundred thousand ounces to several million ounces of gold production per year. apiece operator in the supply chain has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some companies do well at extracting the metal from the earth, some refine, firearm others smelt and transform the commodity into a finished product. Most gold that is mined today is used for jewelry, perhaps because of its beauty, or perhaps because it doesnt rust or corrode.Other uses for gold include tooth filings, electronics manufacturing and collectibles, but these make up a very small portion of general demand. Unlike other industries, companies in the mining industry come in all shapes and sizes. Much of the production is done by large blue routine companies, but the exploration side of the industry is full of junior companies looking to hit a home r un with a large gold find. The mining industry has plenty of opportunities for speculators and others for income investors. (To learn more, read acquire Into The Gold Market. ) Key Ratios/Terms mine Production Rates Serious gold investors follow the Gold Survey very closely, published by Gold Fields Mineral Services. Each year, it lists the worldwide mine production statistics.increase production rates means more supply, which ultimately means a lower price for gold if demand remains stable. Scrap retrieval Another statistic published in the Gold Survey, scrap This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 15 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. recovery refers to the worldwide supply of gold from sources other than mine production. This includes recovered old jewelry, industrial byproducts, etc. Throughout the 1990s, more than 15% of the worlds gold supply came from scrap recovery. Futures gross revenue by Producers As you probably know, gold trades in the futures markets.Gold producers are constantly monitoring the prices in the futures markets because it determines the price at which they can sell their gold. The Gold Survey lists statistics on producer gross gross gross sales. If producers are selling an increasing amount in the futures market, it could mean that prices will fall very soon. By purchasing futures contracts the producer locks-in a price. Therefore, if the price of gold falls in future months, it wont affect the producers bottom line. Conversely, if prices continue to rise after the producer locks in, they wont be able to capitalize on the higher prices. Bullion This denotes gold and silver that is refined and formally recognized as high quality (at least 99. 5% pure). It is usually in the form of parallel bars rather than coins.When you hear of investors or central banks belongings gold reserves, it is usually in the form of bullion. Ore This refers to mineralized list that contains metal. Gold producers mine gold ore and then extract the gold from it using either chemicals, extreme heat, or some other method. There are different types of ores, of which the most common are oxide ores and sulphide ores. Analyst Insight The price of gold fluctuates on a minute-by-minute basis, so taking a look at the historical price range is the first place you should look. Many factors determine the price of gold, but it really all comes down to supply and demand. Demand typically does not fluctuate too much, but supply shocks can send prices either soaring or into the doldrums.The difference between production costs and the futures price for gold equals the gross profit margins for mining companies. Therefore, the second place you requirement to look is the cost of production. The main factors to look at are the following ? ? lieu Where is the gold being mined? Political zymo lysis in developing nations has ruined more than one mining company. Developing nations might have cheaper labor and mining costs, but the political risks are huge. If you are risk averse, then look for companies with mines in relatively stable areas of the world. The costs might be higher, but at least the company knows what its get into. Ore select Ore is mineralized rock that contains metal.Higher quality ore will contain more gold, which is usually reported as ounces This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 16 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. ? of gold per ton of ore. superior generally speaking, oxide ores are better because the rock is more porous, making it easier to remove the gold. Mine Type The type of mine a company uses is a big factor in production costs. Most underground mines are more overpriced than ope n pit mines. Cost of Production The cost of production is probably the most widely followed measure for analyzing a gold producer.The lower the costs, the greater the operating leverage, which means that earnings are more stable and less volatile to changes in the price of gold. For example, a company that has a cash cost around $175/ounce is, for obvious reasons, in a much better position than one whose cost is $275/ounce. The low-cost producer has much more staying power than the marginal producer. In fact, if the price of gold declines beneath $275/ounce, the higher-cost producer would have to stop producing until the price goes back up. Producers usually publish their cost of production in their annual report this cost includes everything from site preparation to milling and refining.It doesnt include exploration costs, financing, or any other administrative expenses the company might incur. apart from looking at costs, investors should carefully look over revenue growth. Reve nue is output times the selling price for gold, so it may fluctuate from year to year. Well-run companies will attempt to hedge against fluctuating gold prices through the futures markets. impinge on a look at the revenue fluctuations over the past several years. Ideally, the revenue growth should be smooth. Companies with revenues that fluctuate widely from year to year are very hard to analyze and arent where the smart money goes. Debt Levels Investors should keep an eye on debt levels, which are on the balance sheet.High debt puts a aviation on credit ratings, weakening the companys ability to purchase new equipment or finance other capital expenditures. Poor credit ratings also make it difficult to acquire new businesses. (For related reading, see Debt Reckoning. ) P/E As a final caution (beware), never analyze a precious-metals company based on the price-to-earnings ratio. In general, a high P/E means high projected earnings in the future, but all gold stocks have high P/E r atios. The P/E ratio for a gold stock doesnt really tell us anything because precious metals companies need to be compared by assets, not earnings. Unlike buildings and machinery, gold companies have large amounts of gold in their vaults and in mines throughout the world.Gold on the balance sheet is unlike other capital assets gold is seen This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 17 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. as currency of last resort. Investors are therefore volition to pay more for a gold company because it is the next best thing to physically retentivity the gold themselves. There are a few valuation techniques that analysts use when comparing various precious metal companies. The most popular and widely used ratio is market capitalization per ounce of reserves (market cap divided by reserves).This indicates to in vestors what they are paying for each ounce of reserves. Obviously, a lower price is better. Porters 5 Forces Analysis 1. Threat of New Entrants. pay is a principal barrier to entry in the precious-metals industry, which is heavily capital intensive. Constructing mines, production facilities, exploration and development and mining equipment all require large sums of capital. This capital is required before the mine is in production. Therefore, thriving financing terms are extremely important. In short, long-term survival in the precious-metal market requires significant capital. 2. Power of Suppliers. The only supply-side issues that miners face deal with government regulations and rules.The supply of land is plentiful, but gaining approval and permits to mine the land can be difficult, especially if environmental risks are high. 3. Power of Buyers. Gold is a commodity-based business, so the gold from one company is not that much different from anothers. This translates into buyer s seeking lower prices and better contract terms. 4. Availability of Substitutes. Substitutes for the precious metals industry include other precious metals such as diamonds, silver, platinum, etc. These are worthy substitutes for gold, but they are not as widely accepted as gold. Gold has the wages of being standard for a world currency, so a gold bar in the U. S. s worth the same as it is in Ecuador. As other forms of precious metals such as diamonds gain popularity, they may also become more glum as substitutes. 5. Competitive Rivalry. Gold companies dont compete on price, mainly because the prices are determined by market forces. entirely gold companies do compete for land. The rachis of a precious metals company is its reserves, and the only way to beef up reserves is to explore for good mining areas. Companies go to great lengths to discover gold deposits, and the discovery is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Key Links ? InfoMine. com Get the latest news and statistics on mining companies. Mining USA Here is more data and information on mining. This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 18 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. ? Mining Glossary When you are analyzing a mining company you are bound to come across industry-specific terms you dont understand Automobiles Similar to the invention of the airplane, the proceeds of railcarmobiles has had a profound effect on our everyday lives. The auto manufacturing industry is considered to be highly capital and labor intensive.The major osts for producing and selling cable cars include ? ? ? Labor While machines and robots are playing a greater role in manufacturing vehicles, there are still substantial labor costs in scheming and engineering automobiles. Materials Everything from steel, aluminum, dashboards, seats, tires, etc. are purchased f rom suppliers. Advertising Each year auto manufacturers spend billions on print and mete out advertising furthermore, they spent large amounts of money on market research to anticipate consumer trends and preferences. The auto market is thought to be made primarily of automanufacturing businesss, but auto parts makes up another stipendiary sector of the market.The major areas of auto parts manufacturing are ? ? ? Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) The big auto manufacturers do produce some of their own parts, but they cant produce every part and component that goes into a new vehicle. Companies in this industry manufacture everything from door handles to seats. Replacement separate Production and Distribution These are the parts that are replaced after the purchase of a vehicle. Air filters, oil filers and replacement lights are examples of products from this area of the sector. Rubber manufacture This includes everything from tires, hoses, belts, etc. In the auto indus try, a large proportion of revenue comes from selling automobiles.The parts market, however, is even more lucrative. For example, a new car might cost $18,000 to buy, but if you bought, from the automaker, all the parts needed to construct that car, it would cost 300-400% more. Over and above the labor and material costs we mentioned above, there are other developments in the automobile industry that you must consider when analyzing an automobile company. Globalization, the tendency of world investment and businesses to move from national and domestic markets to a This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 19 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved.Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. worldwide environment, is a huge factor impact the auto market. More than ever, it is becoming easier for contrary automakers to enter the North American market. (To read more about this i ssue, see The Globalization Debate. ) Competition is the other factor that takes its toll on the auto industry we will discuss this in more detail below under the Porters 5 forces analysis Key Players In North America, the automobile production market is dominated by whats known as the Big deuce-ace ? ? ? General Motors Produces Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac, among others.Chrysler Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. Ford Motor Co Ford, Lincoln and Volvo. Two of the largest foreign car manufacturers are ? ? Toyota Motor Co Honda Motor Co Key Ratios/Terms Fleet gross revenue Traditionally, these are high-volume sales designated to come from large companies and government agencies. These sales are almost always at discount prices. In the past several years, auto makers have been extending fleet sales to small businesses and other associations. Seasonally adjust Annual Rate of gross revenue (SAAR) Most auto makers experience increased sales during the second quarter (April to June), and sales tend to be sluggish between November and January.For this reason, it is important to compare sales figures to the same period of the previous year. The adjustment factors are released each year by the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Sales Reports Many of the large auto makers release their preliminary sales figures from the previous month on a monthly basis. This can give you an indication of the current trends in the industry. Day Sales blood line = Average fund Average Daily Sales The sales reports (discussed above) are released monthly. Most automakers try to make dealerships hold 60 days worth of memorandum on their lots. view out This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 20 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. om All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. if sales enrolment climbs significantly above 60 days worth. Sales fluctuate month-to-month, but yo u shouldnt see sustained periods of high inventory. Analyst Insight Automobiles depend heavily on consumer trends and tastes. While car companies do sell a large proportion of vehicles to businesses and car rental companies (fleet sales), consumer sales is the largest source of revenue. For this reason, taking consumer and business confidence into account should be a higher priority than considering the regular factors like earnings growth and debt load. For more about the Consumer office Survey, see Economic Indicators Consumer confidence Index. ) Another caveat of analyzing an automaker is taking a look at whether a company is planning makeovers or complete redesigns. Every year, car companies update their cars. This is a part of normal operations, but there can be a problem when a company decides to significantly change the design of a car. These changes can cause massive delays and glitches, which result in increased costs and slower revenue growth. While a new design may pay off significantly in the long run, its always a risky proposition. For parts suppliers, the life span of an automobile is very important.The longer a car sash operational, the greater the need for replacement parts. On the other hand, new parts are lasting longer, which is great for consumers, but is not such good news for parts makers. When, for example, most car makers moved from using rolled steel to stainless steel, the change all-embracing the life of parts by several years. A significant portion of an automakers revenue comes from the services it offers with the new vehicle. Offering lower financial rates than financial institutions, the car company makes a profit on financing. Extended warranties also factor into the bottom line. (To read more about this, see Extended Warranties Should You Take The Bait? Greater emphasis on leasing has also helped increase revenues. The advantage of leasing is that it eases consumer fears about resale value, and it makes the car sound more affordable. From a makers perspective, leasing is a great way to hide the true price of the vehicle through financing costs. Car companies, then, are able to push more cars through. Unfortunately, profiting on leasing is not as clear as it sounds. Leasing requires the automakers to accurately judge the value of their vehicles at the end of the lease, otherwise they may actually lose money. If you think about it, the automaker will lose money on the lease if they give the car a high salvage value.A car with a low salvage value at the end of the lease will simply be bought by the consumer and flipped for a profit. This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 21 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. Porters 5 Forces Analysis 1. Threat of New Entrants. Its true that the average person cant come along and start manufacturing automobiles. Historically, it was thought that the American automobile industry and the Big Three were safe. But this did not hold true when Honda Motor Co. overt its first plant in Ohio.The emergence of foreign competitors with the capital, required technologies and way skills began to undermine the market share of North American companies. 2. Power of Suppliers. The automobile supply business is quite fragmented (there are many firms). Many suppliers rely on one or two automakers to buy a majority of their products. If an automaker decided to switch suppliers, it could be devastating to the previous suppliers business. As a result, suppliers are extremely nonimmune to the demands and requirements of the automobile manufacturer and hold very little power. 3. Power of Buyers. Historically, the bargaining power of automakers went unchallenged.The American consumer, however, became disappoint with many of the products being offered by certain automakers and began looking for alternatives, namel y foreign cars. On the other hand, while consumers are very price sensitive, they dont have much buying power as they never purchase huge volumes of cars. 4. Availability of Substitutes. Be careful and arrant(a) when analyzing this factor we are not just talking about the threat of someone buying a different car. You need to also look at the likelihood of people taking the bus, train or airplane to their destination. The higher the cost of operating a vehicle, the more likely people will seek alternative transportation options.The price of gasoline has a large effect on consumers decisions to buy vehicles. Trucks and sport utility vehicles have higher profit margins, but they also guzzle gas compared to smaller sedans and light trucks. When determining the availability of substitutes you should also consider time, money, personal preference and convenience in the auto travel industry. Then decide if one car maker poses a big threat as a substitute. 5. Competitive Rivalry. Highly co mpetitive industries generally earn low returns because the cost of competition is high. The auto industry is considered to be an oligopoly, which helps to minimize the effects of pricebased competition.The automakers understand that price-based competition does not necessarily lead to increases in the size of the marketplace historically they have tried to stave off price-based competition, but more recently the competition has intensify rebates, preferred financing and long-term warranties have helped to lure in customers, but they also put pressure on the profit margins for vehicle sales. This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 22 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. (For further reading, check out Analyzing Auto Stocks. ) Key Links ? ? ? ? Wards Automotive Reports A popular publishing firm of automotive data.The Allianc e of Automobile Manufacturers Get the latest industry facts, developments, and technological innovations. Automotive Industries A pickup covering several areas of the auto industry. US Council for Automobile Research The umbrella organization of Daimler Chrysler, Ford and General Motors created to strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry. The Retailing Industry All businesses that sell goods and services to consumers fall under the umbrella of retailing, but there are several directions we can take from here. For starters, there are department gunstocks, discount pedigrees, specialty stores and even seasonal retailers.Each of these might have their own little quirks however, for the most part the analysis overlaps to all areas of retailing. This section of the industry handbook will try to focus more on general retailers and department stores. (For background reading, see Analyzing Retail Stocks. ) Over the past span decades, there have been sweeping chang es in the general retailing business. What was once strictly a bespoke market for vesture has changed to a ready-to-wear market. Flipping through a catalog, picking the color, size and type of clothing a person wanted to purchase and then waiting to have it run up and shipped was standard practice. At the turn of the century some retailers would have a storefront where people could browse.Meanwhile, new pieces were being sewn or customized in the back rooms. In some parts of the world, the retail business is dominated by smaller family-run or regionally-targeted stores, but this market is more and more being taken over by billion-dollar multinational conglomerates like Wal-Mart and Sears. The larger retailers have managed to set up huge supply/distribution chains, inventory management systems, financing pacts and wide scale marketing plans. Without getting into specific product categories within the retailing industry, the boilersuit segments can be divided into two categories ? stark These types of goods include appliances, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, etc.Sometimes referred to as hardline retailers. This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 23 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. ? Soft This category includes clothing, apparel, and other fabrics. Each retailer tries to compare itself from the competition, but the strategy that the company uses to sell its products is the most important factor. Here are some different types of retailers ? ? ? Department Stores Very large stores offering a huge assortment of goods and services.Discounters These also tend to offer a wide crop of products and services, but they compete mainly on price. demographic These are retailers that aim at one particular segment. High-end retailers focusing on wealthy individuals would be a good example. Each of these has its own distinct advantages, but its important to know how these advantages play out. For example, during tough economic times, the discount retailers tend to outperform the others. The opposite is true when the economy is thriving. The more successful retailers attempt to concur the characteristics of more than one type of retailer to differentiate themselves from the competition. Key Ratios/Terms Same Store Sales Used when analyzing individual retailers.It compares sales in stores that have been open for a year or more. This allows investors to compare what proportion of new sales have come from sales growth compared to the beginning of new stores. This is important because although new stores are good, there eventually comes a saturation point at which future sales growth comes at the expense of losses at other locations. Same store sales are also commonly referred to as comps. Sales per full-strength Foot Sales Square Footage Store space is considered to be a produ ctive asset and the key to profitability. Successful companies generate as much sales volume as possible out of each square foot of store space.More recently, analysts have created modifications of this concept by looking at a retailers gross margin per square foot. Inventory Turnover This ratio shows how many times the inventory of a firm is This tutorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. com/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 24 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. sold and replaced over a specific period. Generally calculated as Sales Inventory Cost of Goods Sold Average Inventory But, may also be calculated as Although the first calculation is more frequently used, COGS may be substituted because sales are recorded at market value while inventories are usually recorded at cost.Also, average inventory may be used instead of the ending inventory to help minimize seasonal f actors. This ratio should be compared against similar retail companies or the industry average. A low turnover might imply poor sales and, therefore, excess inventory. A high ratio implies either strong sales or otiose buying from suppliers. (For related reading, see Consumer Confidence The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is put out by the Consumer Confidence Board around the middle of each month. The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a adjudicate of 5,000 U. S. households and is considered to be one of the most accurate indicators of confidence. Increasing confidence means more spending and borrowing for consumers a positive for retailers. To learn more about this measure, see Economic Indicators To Know Consumer Confidence Index. ) personalised Income & Disposable Income Every quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis releases the latest income data for U. S. citizens. There is a high correlation between retail sales data and the changes in personal income. (For more insig ht, see Economic Indicators Personal Income and Outlays. ) Analyst Insight As we mentioned earlier, the store type and the strategy that retailers use plays a big role in how well the company performs. The first thing to take a look at is what segment of the retail industry the company is situated in. Is the company a discounter? Department store? Specialty retailer?The retail category to which the company belongs also helps determine the following details about the company ? Competitors The number and size of direct competitors is important. Ideally, you want the company to have as little competition as possible, but this rarely happens. Determine who the direct competitors are and how they are all positioned in the market. A smaller regional discount store might find it tough to compete with new Wal-mart stores opening up every month. Take a look at the big picture, find out what differentiates the company from its competitors. Do they have better prices, service, or offer This t utorial can be found at http//www. investopedia. om/features/industryhandbook/ (Page 25 of 65) Copyright 2010, Investopedia. com All rights reserved. Investopedia. com the resource for investing and personal finance education. ? ? higher quality goods than their competition? Grocery stores might find it hard to differentiate themselves from competitors after all, an apple is an apple. Higher-end retailers, however, may have an easier time as they try to compete on service or quality. Size of the Market Determining the boilersuit size of the market gives us an indication of the say-so for the market. If you had the choice between a company with a 25% share of a $10 million market or a 25% share of a $1 billion market, which one would you chose?Other Factors Some analysts even go as far as evaluating the retail strategy that the companies use. For example, does the company have a fresh look? Are their stores clean, sleek and fun to shop in? Swedish retailer Ikea has done an exc ellent job of designing their stores for optic appeal, and quite possibly it has equated to very strong sales. Also, what are the store demographics? Does the retailer appeal more to jr. people (who dont have the money), or does it appeal to the parents (who do have the money). The performance of the economy as a whole obviously has a great impact on the retailing industry. Retailer profits have a close correlation with the overall performance of the economy.Looking at the trends for growth in gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, consumer confidence, personal income and interest rates are extremely important when thinking about investing in the retail industry. You might not think that your shopping habits are sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, but they are. While a 50-basis-point drop in interest rates might not give you the sudden inkling to go drop $1,000 at Macys, for the economy as a whole, it has a big effect on spending patterns. (For more insight on this effect, s ee How Interest Rates Affe