Secrets From The Pro's

From evaluating a bank to investing in a retailer – how do the Fast Money pro’s do it?




TRADING BROKERS
Metrics That Matter
- M&A Advisory Business
- Underwriting
- Trading

Brokers can really make a fortune or lose their shirts on the commission from trades, says Karen Finerman. And the ones who aren’t doing it well in a volatile environment are the ones to avoid.

Goldman Sachs  stands above all others, says Guy Adami. (He's a former Goldman guy)

Morgan Stanley too, adds Pete Najarian.

TRADING RETAIL STOCKS
Metrics That Matter
- Same-Store Sales (A.K.A "Comps")
- Fashion Initiatives
- Execution

Usually on the first Thursday of every month the retailers release same-store-sales, which are a report card for the sector, says Jeff Macke. Don’t own a retailer who’s missing their numbers.

TRADING DRUG STOCKS
Metrics That Matter
- Conferences & Clinical Test Trial Dates
- Current Roster Of Drugs
- Pipeline Of Future Drugs

It’s important to know these metrics says Pete Najarian because drugs sometimes hit stumbling blocks. Of course, other times they become multi-billion dollar blockbusters.

TRADING ENERGY & COMMODITY STOCKS
Metrics That Matter
- Price of the Commodity
- Beware Valuation
- Stocks are NOT a proxy play for the underlying commodity

Guy Adami feels the third point is extremely important. For example, he says if you’re bullish on gold don’t buy a mining company such as Newmont Mining because you also get all kinds of corporate risks.

TRADING TAKEOVER TARGETS
Questions You Should Ask
- Are there "supervoting shares"?
- What state is the company incorporated in?
- Are there big shareholders who've been active in the past?

Stay away from companies incorporated in Pennsylvania, says Karen Finerman. They’re not shareholder friendly. By contrast, Delaware is extremely friendly. And you can find out the state of incorporation on the front of a “10-Q”

TRADING DEALS "IN LIMBO"
Questions You Should Ask
- What kind of bidder is it? Corporate?
- Is it a "trophy property"?
- What leverage can the buyer use against the target?

Finerman says when you’re looking at the bidders, determine if they’re corporate bidders or some kind of LBO. Finerman likes corporate bidders best.

TRADING CHIP STOCKS
Metrics That Matter
- Global Demand
- Commoditization
- Gadgets

Gross margins are very important explains Guy Adami. Intel’s margins are expected to go higher into next year and that makes it a stock he wants to own.

TRADING SOFTWARE & VIDEOGAME STOCKS
Metrics That Matter
- Product Cycle Demand

Judge video games by the hardware release, says Jeff Macke. Typically Sony (SNE), Nintendo (NTDOY) and Microsoft (MSFT) lead on new consoles he says. A few years after that, profit margins are strong on the new software titles.

TRADING GADGETS AND TELECOM
Metrics That Matter
- Product Cycle Demand
- Wireless Capacity

Pete Najarian investigates how much growth lies ahead for companies in this sector.  For example, he likes Research In Motion (RIMM) because Pete anticipates they will explode when they get into China.

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Trader disclosure: On Nov. 19, 2007, the day this segment was taped, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders: Finerman's Firm Owns S&P 500 Options, Finerman's Firm Owns Russell 2000 Puts, Finerman's Firm Is Short (IWM), Finerman's Firm Is Short (MDY), Finerman's Firm Is Short (SPY), Finerman's Firm Is Short (IJR), Finerman's Firm Is Short (IYR), Finerman's Firm Owns (BIIB) Options, Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (GS), Finerman's Firm Owns (HD) And (HD) Puts, Finerman Owns (HD), Finerman's Firm Owns (KSS), Finerman's Firm Is Short (LEH) And Owns (LEH) Puts, Finerman's Firm Is Short (LEN), Finerman's Firm Owns (LTD), Finerman's Firm Owns (MSFT) Options, Finerman's Firm Owns (TWX), Finerman's Firm Owns (YHOO), Finerman's Firm Owns (WMT), Finerman's Firm Owns (NDAQ), Finerman's Firm Owns (NYX), Finerman's Firm Owns (NMX) Options, Finerman's Firm Owns (BEAS) Options, Macke Owns (DIS), Macke Owns (YHOO), Najarian Owns (AMTD) Options, Najarian Owns (CSCO) Options, Najarian Owns (YHOO) Options, Najarian Owns (GOOG) Options