ASG. Abbreviation for Ace’s Stock Grade. (SEE: Definition below)

Ace’s Stock Grade. A proprietary number devised by ACES that combines a stock's profitability, management's performance, per share earnings, price-earnings ratio, financial strength, price behavior, growth aspects and other selected variables in one number. A higher graded stock is preferable than a lower graded stock.

ASG's lowest value is 00.0000 and the highest is 20.9999. ACES stock picks todate (2/16/2001) have ASG values ranging from a low of 10.0000 (i.e. CIGNA Corp.) to a high of 16.0303 (i.e., Barnwell Industries); and an average ASG value of 11.7600. ACES top stock performers, Beazer Homes (50.98% gain in 60 days) and NVR Homes (68.33% gain in 120 days), have ASG values of 13.0099 and 15.0145 respectively. .

Book Value. The amount of total shareholder's equity less the combined amount of preferred stocks and redeemable preferred stocks.

Debt/Equity ratio. The ratio of long-term debt divided by common stockholder equity. Used as a measure of a company’s financial strength.

Earnings Per Share. The ratio of a company's profit divided by its number of outstanding shares. (Also called EPS).

EPS. Earnings per share.

52 week High. The highest price traded for a particular stock during the last 52 weeks.

52 week Low. The highest price traded for a particular stock during the last 52 weeks.

IPO. Initial public offering. Describes the first time a stock is traded in the stock market.

Last Price. The latest quote received for a particular stock.

Leverage. The degree to which an investor or business is utilizing borrowed money. (SEE: Total Debt\Equity Ratio)

Limit Order. A type of execution order to a stock broker to execute an order at a specified price. If the given price condition is not met, a trade will not be made by the broker.

Long-term debt. A company’s loans and obligations with a maturity of more than one year.

Market Capitalization. An amount obtained by multiplying the number of outstanding shares (of a company) by the current market price of a share. Used to find the value a corporation as determined by the market price of its stock.

Market Order. A type of execution order given by a stock buyer to a stock broker to execute a market order where the broker buys the share at its current bid or ask price on the exchange.

MRQ. Abbreviation for the “Most recent quarter”.

Net Profit Margin (TTM). Basically, net income as a percentage of net sales. Specically, income after taxes (for the trailing twelve months) divided by total revenue for the same period. Expressed as a percentage.

New Highs. The number of stocks making new 52-week highs in a sector, an industry or exchange.

New Lows. The number of stocks making new 52-week lows in a sector, an industry or exchange.

Operating Margin (TTM). Basically, the percent of revenues remaining after all operating expenses have been paid. Specifically, the previous 12 months' operating income divided by previous 12 months' total revenue, multiplied by 100.

Outstanding stock. The portion of a corporation's stock that have been issued and are in the hands of the public. (Also called shares outstanding).

Payout Ratio. The portion of the Primary/Basic Earnings Per Share (Excluding Extraordinary Items) paid to common stockholders in the form of cash dividends during the trailing twelve months.

P/E Ratio. Price/Earnings Ratio.

Price/Earnings ratio. The market price of a stock divided by its earnings per share. Indicates the multiple of earnings at which a stock sells. Higher multiple means investors have higher expectations for future growth, and have bid up the stock's price

Price/Sales. The Current price of a stock divided by its sales per share for the trailing twelve months.

Profit margin. The ratio of net income divided by revenue for the same 12-month period. The ratio (shown as a percentage) is an indicator of a company’s profitability. Also known as net profit margin.

Record Price High. A stock listed with a record price high indicates that the stock has reached a trade price that is the highest for the 52-weeks past. Record Price Low. A stock listed with a record price low indicates that the stock has reached a trade price that is the lowest for the 52-weeks past.

Record Volume. A stock listed with a record volume indicates that the stock has reached a trade volume that is the highest for the 52-weeks past.

ROE (TTM). Return on equity (expressed as a percentage). Used as an indicator of a company’s profitability. Determined by dividing a company’s net income for the past 12 months by common stockholder equity.

Share. A certificate representing one unit of ownership in a corporation, mutual fund, or limited partnership.

Shareholders’ equity. A company’s total assets minus total liabilities.Also called owner's equity or net assets.

Shares Outstanding. (SEE: outstanding stock)

Split. An increase in a corporation's outstanding shares that decreases the par value of its stocks.

Stock. An instrument signifying ownership position, or equity, in a corporation, and represents a claim for a proportionate share in the corporation's assets and profits. (Also called equities or equity securities or corporate stock)

Stock certificate. A document representing legal ownership of a specific number of stock shares in a corporation. (Also called certificate of stock).

Stock Price % Change. This is the percentage change between the last stock price and the stock close price of previous session. This is calculated as the Stock Price Change divided by previous close.

Total Debt/Equity Ratio. A measure of a company's financial leverage. Calculated by dividing long-term debt by common shareholders' equity, usually using the data from the previous fiscal year.

TTM. Trailing twelve-month.

Uptrend. When the price of a stock or index experiences a series of higher peaks and troughs (higher highs and higher lows), it is said to be in an uprend.

Yield. Generally, the annual rate of return on an investment, expressed as a percentage. For securities, it is the annual dividends divided by the purchase price (also called dividend yield or current yield).