[OSV Tutorial] Reading the Action Score combinations and what it's telling you

In the last email, we sent through a deliberate 4 step process to make the searching and analysis process easier.

What you will learn:

• How to quickly read the Action Score bar charts
• How we categorize and name broad categories of Action Scores
• The flow of movement a stock can take

By now, you know what the Action Score is and how to best utilize it.

Let's get to figuring out how to interpret it quickly.

Refer to the following images because they will come in very handy.

Identifying the Type of Action Score

The first one is what we call a Trifecta.

When a company achieves an A for all three Q,V and G, it is a great idea to look into. Not all A grade stocks are Trifecta's.
And it doesn't mean it's an automatic buy.

There's no such thing.

Having said that, these are the types of companies that have been firing on all cylinders.

There is a downside to a Trifecta stock.

It can only stay where it is at best, or fall to a B grade stock.

A falling grade does not mean it is bad though.

If the market catches on and the Trifecta rockets up in price, the value score will fall and the stock will likely become a B.

But because the market is rewarding the company for its fundamentals, it is not an immediate sell.

Which brings us to the B grade "Potential Stocks".

Potential Stocks

B's have great potential - thus "Potential Stocks".

Most of the time, B grade stocks are rated highly for only two factors.

This is better than being rated highly for only one category.

Here's how we describe these Potential Stocks:

• Q+V = Sleeper Stocks (Market hasn't caught on)
• Q+G = Munger Stocks (Charles Munger and his preference for buying great companies at fair prices)
• V+G = GARP Stocks (Peter Lynch looked for growth at a reasonable price)

Again, there are broad categories and there will be companies that don't fit into any of these three. But the point is to get familiar with what you are seeing.

B Potential Stocks can become A grade stocks or drop to C grade.

When analyzing a B grade stock, ask yourself whether the lowest of the 3 scores will rebound or fall further?

E.g. if a retail fashion company is rated a B and classified as a Sleeper Stock (Q+V), my initial assumption will be that growth will likely stay low and quality could easily drop. I'd stay away.

Or say the retail company is currently a GARP stock (V+G), I'm willing to bet that growth will slow the minute something happens to the economy.

B grade stocks have potential but you need to think about which direction it will go.

Borderline Stocks

Borderline Stocks are rated C or D.

These companies are on the fringe.

Also happens to be the types of stocks investors are drawn towards. If you're into value, you only look for value and forget about the rest.

With this visual presentation, you are reminded that Borderline companies are complex, difficult to analyze and where lots of money is lost.

When a stock only scores highly for one area and fails the other two, it requires intensive analysis to make sure you understand what you are buying.

• Mom & Pop (Quality only. No value, no growth.)
• Value Trap (Value only. Be careful. Potential falling knives.)
• Darlings (Most fast growth companies lie here. The minute growth disappears, so does the company.)

And lastly, the F grades that we call "Red Flags".

Red Flags

These are uncharted waters and you have to be ready. Not all F stocks are bad, but the majority are.

Good companies can fall into this F group for the following reasons:

• grade is due to complex financials
• capex heavy
• falling from a cyclically high year

For the majority of investors, it's better to stay away.

To put all this together, here's a chart that shows the movement a stock can take through the Action Score river.
For the best chance of success, play with the A's and B's.

Busy investors: Focus on the A's and B's.
Active investors: be careful with the C's and D's.

Up next, a rule of thumb on staying away from value traps.