Investing directly in equities?

When it comes to direct stock investing, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Check the fundamentals - When it comes to direct equity investing, having the right knowledge and understanding is the key to success. It's critical to consider the following factors when making a comprehensive decision:

1. Find out more about the company and its business model.

2. Recognize the company's market sector, the brand value it conveys, and its market share.

3. Learn about the company's capital allocation, revenue and profit drivers, management, corporate governance processes, stakeholder treatment, the company's vision statement, future growth possibilities, and so on.

4. Because businesses do not operate in a vacuum, it is also necessary to research the industry and its competitors, the domestic and global economic environments, and the political environment, among other things.

You should also consider some quantitative elements in addition to these qualitative aspects. Price-to-Equity ratio, Price-to-Book Value ratio, Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Assets (ROA), debt-to-equity ratio, dividend payment, dividend yield, estimating future cash-flows, intrinsic value, and so on are some of them.

It is critical to pay the correct price for the appropriate stocks. "Price is what you pay, value is what you get," Warren Buffett once said. While it may appear that price and value are two sides of the same coin, they are not. You might be able to successfully select stocks if you take this technique.

Spread out your investments – There may be times when markets appear to be hitting all-time highs on a daily basis. It is preferable to stagger your investments rather than investing a large sum at times when valuations appear stretched. Don't make all of your investments at once. Take advantage of any intermediate market corrections that may occur.

Diversify within the equity asset class - Diversification is a basic precept of investing that reduces concentration risk, which can have a negative impact on the performance of your portfolio. As a result, pay attention to how much of your money you distribute across market capitalization categories (large-caps, mid-caps, small-caps) and industries to avoid a lopsided portfolio.

You might choose to invest in equities using the 'Core & Satellite' method. The phrase 'Core' refers to the portfolio's more stable, long-term assets, whilst the term 'Satellite' refers to the strategic element that would help boost the portfolio's total returns, regardless of market conditions.

Large-cap stocks may make up a higher share of your equity portfolio's core holdings. The satellite holdings, on the other hand, may consist of a lesser part of shares from the mid-cap and small-cap domains. Core and Satellite investing combines the best of both worlds, providing both short-term high-rewarding chances and long-term consistent profits. Having said that, the amount of money you put into large-caps, mid-caps, and small-caps should ideally correspond to your risk profile, investment purpose, and time horizon.

Consider investing in overseas shares to diversify your portfolio across borders. This may help you mitigate country-specific risks while also allowing you to benefit from international investment opportunities.

Maintain optimal cash - You'll need enough liquidity or cash to cover your routine expenses and unexpected expenses. As a result, keep 'optimal cash,' which is neither too much nor too little. Maintain a sufficient amount in your savings account so that the money is readily available anytime you need it, especially for market deployment when there is a large correction and/or an appealing investment opportunity.

Review and rebalance your portfolio — Many investors make the mistake of chasing momentum in the hopes of making quick money. However, do not expect that equities markets will rise in a straight line. Volatility and corrections are a natural element of the equity market, and they can increase the risk associated with your equity investments. Furthermore, your financial circumstances, personal risk profile, attitude toward money, or investing aim may change over time. You could also choose a different investment strategy. So, among other things, analyse and rebalance your portfolio by considering the following factors:

- Diversification of assets

- The total number of stocks and mutual funds that are equity-oriented.

- Stocks and/or equity-oriented mutual funds' essential characteristics

- The price-to-equity ratio (P/E ratio), price-to-book value ratio, earnings trend (quarter-over-quarter, year-over-year), Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Assets (ROA), debt-to-equity ratio, dividend payout history, forecasting future cash-flows, intrinsic value, and many other quantitative aspects

- The exposure of the company

- Market capitalization segments (large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap) exposure

- Exposure by industry

You may sell the stock if the stock's fundamentals appear weak, the company's future growth appears challenging, the sector outlook appears challenging, your return expectations have been met, you have accumulated the necessary corpus to meet your envisioned financial goals, your risk profile has changed, portfolio review and rebalancing warrants the exit, you wish to change your investment strategy, and/or you require funds for an emergency.