Sheryl

Understanding the S&P 500 and Its Total Return History The S&P 500 index serves as a crucial benchmark for US equity markets, tracking the performance of 500 large-cap companies. Understanding its historical trajectory is vital for investors of all levels. The term “total return” encompasses both capital appreciation (the increase in the value of the … Read more

Understanding Expected Return: A Crucial Concept for Stock Investment Expected return represents the anticipated profit or loss from an investment. It’s a prediction, not a guarantee. Understanding how to find the expected return of a stock is vital for informed decision-making. Investors use this prediction to evaluate potential profits against the risks involved. The expected … Read more

Is a Business Degree Right for You? Decoding Finance vs. Economics Finance and economics are popular choices for students interested in business and quantitative fields. While these fields overlap, their focuses differ significantly. Choosing between a finance major vs economics major requires careful consideration. Students should evaluate their interests and career goals. This article provides … Read more

Decoding Option Valuation with Future Income Streams In the realm of financial derivatives, options pricing stands as a critical element for investors and traders alike. The standard Black-Scholes model, a cornerstone of option valuation, provides a framework for estimating the theoretical price of European-style options. However, its original formulation assumes that the underlying asset, typically … Read more

Decoding E-Mini Futures: A Trader’s Guide E-mini S&P 500 futures contracts represent a pivotal instrument in today’s financial markets, providing a cost-effective avenue for traders and investors to participate in the performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Understanding these contracts is crucial for anyone seeking exposure to the U.S. equity market. A futures … Read more

The Cornerstone of Value Investing: Understanding Graham’s Principles Benjamin Graham, widely regarded as the father of value investing, revolutionized the world of finance with his disciplined and rational approach to stock selection. His seminal work, “Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham,” published in 1934, established a new paradigm for investors, moving away from speculation and towards … Read more

Understanding Stock Float: What It Means The stock float represents the number of a company’s shares available for public trading. This excludes shares held by company insiders, like executives and large institutional investors, as well as treasury stock (shares repurchased by the company). Understanding a company’s float is crucial for investors because it significantly impacts … Read more

Understanding the Federal Reserve’s Role The Federal Reserve (the Fed) plays a crucial role in the US economy. Its primary mandate is to maintain price stability and maximum employment. To achieve these goals, the Fed utilizes various monetary policy tools, with interest rate adjustments being a key mechanism. Inflation, a general increase in prices, is … Read more

Decoding the Daily Cost of Borrowing: A Practical Guide The Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, is a crucial benchmark interest rate reflecting the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. It essentially represents the average rate that institutions pay to borrow money overnight using Treasury bonds as security. Understanding SOFR is … Read more

Understanding Growing Annuities: A Financial Foundation A growing annuity represents a series of payments that increase at a constant rate over a specified period. Unlike a regular annuity, where payments remain fixed, a growing annuity incorporates a growth factor, making it a dynamic financial instrument. The concept of the present value of growing annuity becomes … Read more