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The Stock Analysis Checklist
The questions to answer before you ever buy a stock, boiled down to one printable page: business quality, growth, valuation, debt, and what could go wrong.
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What it is
Most beginners buy a stock because of a headline or a hot tip, then wonder why they lost money. This checklist gives you a repeatable process: 30 questions across six areas that a careful investor asks before putting money in. You can print it and use it on every stock you look at.
The one-page checklist
Thirty checkboxes in six areas: the business, growth, profitability, financial strength, valuation and risk, with a simple scoring guide.
Fill-in worksheet
Twelve key numbers with rule-of-thumb ranges beside them, plus space for your thesis, risks, fair price range and what would make you sell.
How to read the numbers
Plain-English meaning of ROIC, free cash flow, debt ratios, P/E, PEG and more, each with the warning sign to look for.
Where to find the data
Where the free, reliable sources are, including SEC filings, so you are not relying on someone else's summary.
Common traps
The mistakes that cost beginners the most, like buying a great company at any price or treating a low P/E as automatically cheap.
Print one per stock
Keep a stack. Each completed worksheet becomes a record of why you did or did not invest, which makes you better over time.
A look inside
These pages show the checklist as you will receive it. The PDF prints cleanly on standard letter paper in color or black and white.
How to use it in 5 steps
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes the first time. It gets much faster with practice.
- Pick one company you want to understand better. Write its name and ticker at the top of the checklist and the worksheet.
- Get the facts. Open the company's latest annual report (10-K) on SEC EDGAR, plus a free financial data site for ratios. The reference page tells you what to look for and where.
- Fill in the worksheet. Enter the twelve key numbers and compare each to the rule-of-thumb range and to the company's own history and competitors.
- Work through the checklist. Check a box only when you can back it up. Leave blanks for anything you cannot yet answer, since those are your next research tasks.
- Write your conclusion. Note the top risks, a fair price range and what would make you sell, then choose pass, watchlist, research more or ready to decide. Date it and file it.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Enter your email, download the PDF and keep it. There is no payment or trial.
Does it tell me which stocks to buy?
No. It is a framework for doing your own research, not a recommendation. A high score means a company is worth researching further, not that it is a good buy at any price.
Where do the rules of thumb come from?
They are common beginner guidelines such as ROIC above 10% and net debt under 3x EBITDA. They vary by industry, so always compare a company with its own history and direct competitors.
Can I use it for ETFs or funds?
It is designed for individual stocks. For funds, focus on cost, what the fund holds and how it fits your overall plan. Our free courses cover that.
Do I need to print it?
No. You can fill it on screen in any PDF reader, but many people find a printed page easier to think on.
It asks for my email again on another device.
The site remembers you per browser. Enter the same email once on the new device and it unlocks instantly.
Ready to start?
Get the free checklist
Enter your email and the download unlocks right here, instantly. No password, no credit card. You will also get new LTLM posts and tools. Unsubscribe anytime.
100% freeTakes 5 secondsPrintable PDF
Your checklist is ready
You are in. Welcome to Learn to Love Money.
Download the PDF, then follow the steps below. Print it or keep it on your screen.
Download the PDFLTLM-Stock-Analysis-Checklist.pdf · 851 KB · Free
For educational purposes only. This checklist does not provide personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice and is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Rules of thumb are general guidelines and vary by industry. All investing involves risk, including the loss of money. Past performance does not predict future results.