AUGUST 2003

Online SSG Data On Demand

Online Premium Services - BITS & Data

Online Premium Services (OPS) is a data and newsletter subscription offered by NAIC to investment club members that enables the completion of Stock Selection Guides (SSGs). Those of us who have been through marathon SSG classes and have completed SSGs by hand know how powerful this timesaver can be. The way that OPS SSG data completes the painstaking historical fields -- with a click or two -- is still nothing short of breathtaking. The following discussion provides an overview of OPS. What is it? How might I use it? How do I subscribe?

What is Online Premium Services?

The annual subscription delivers two features. The first is access to online SSG data for literally thousands of companies. Used in tandem with NAIC stock analysis software, this SSG data on demand can expedite your stock studies. The second part is the BITS newsletter. BITS delivers demonstrations of NAIC methods for those who learn by example. A recent example of this was the Johnson & Johnson SSG Demonstration. Candis King provides a point-by-point discussion of the company while completing an SSG.

Another feature delivered by BITS is Phil Keating's NAIC Growth Screen. This screen delivers a number of candidates for further study monthly and ranks as one of the most popular features on the NAIC Web Site. Other features include industry studies, discussions of portfolio management and software tips.

Where Do I Find OPS?

Links to BITS and the online SSG data are provided on the left side bar of every page. Access the features by clicking on BITS or Company Reports.

Individual members and OPS subscribers will be taken directly to the BITS index or reminded to enter a ticker symbol in the box at the top center of any page. If you are a club member and would like to test drive these features, you'll be invited to start a trial period. Explore BITS. Experiment with SSG software and discover how these tools can help you.

Entering Home Depot's (HD) ticker symbol in the box will take you to the Company Report. The information displayed here represents the majority of SSG-based fundamental data on the company. Note that quarterly pre-tax profit figures are provided. You can set your computer's "associate files" settings to work directly with any NAIC stock analysis software that you own. When this is done, clicking on "SSG Data" under the company name will launch an SSG for you.

More References For Working With NAIC Stock Analysis Software

• Using OPS With Toolkit 4.0
• Using OPS With Classic Plus
• Putting Company Reports (And Online SSG Data) To Work

But Is It For Me?

That depends on you. OPS is a subscription for club members. The cost is $25/year. Your decision depends on how many stock studies that you do for either your investment club or personal portfolio. For $25/year, it doesn't take too many trips to the library or purchased research to tip the scales. S&P tear sheets are available via brokerage accounts and the numbers required for SSGs are available at many places on the Internet.

OPS is the only means to directly input the data and save considerable time. How much is time worth to you?

A Bridge to Judgment and Industry Studies

Less time inputting numbers can mean more time available for deeper studies of companies and their management teams. We can also study peers.

By enabling completion of SSGs, we open doors to completion of industry studies. By comparing growth rates and profitability expectations for a peer group of companies, investors can make considered selections. When comparing a number of companies side-by-side, growth rates and profit margins can begin to make more sense. Recent BITS features on this subject have included Maslow's Industry Study of Food Retail.

But I Don't Own Any NAIC Stock Analysis Software

NAIC Members can download fully functional demos at NAIC Software. Click on any of the links on the right side bar for descriptions and instructions for downloading the demos. An SSG Viewer is also available at www.investware.com in the FreeWare Zone.

How Do I Order OPS?

Online Premium Services can be ordered at the NAIC Online Store.