Rating: 
Summary: Complete introduction to the field
Review: The book gives a complete introduction to security analysis. since Hooke worked on Wall street, he gives a lot of comon sense advice and examples. A lot of these books are written by academics. It's a good buy for people who like to do their own investment research.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific summary of how to value a stock!
Review: The book is a terrific summary of how to value a stock. It gives a step by step outline of the process for a variety of stock categories. For example,you can value a manufacturing company with one technique, while savings and loans stocks and hi tech stocks , for example, require other methods. The book explains how all these different industries are handled.The first five chapters really gave me the insiders view of how Wall Street operates, and how it prices IPO's, for example. The author, Jeffrey Hooke, worked on Wall Street a lot, and he doesn't pull any punches. Many things that go on are only semi-honest and he isn't afraid to reveal the dark underbelly of the securities business. I really liked the way he showed how many firms exaggerate their sales and earnings per share. You nevre see this sort of thing in other books. Just by following his advice on pricing stocks on a relative value basis saved me about $3,000 on a recent trade. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Helped me evaluate stocks
Review: The book was a good reference and read for someone who has at least a beginner's background in investing. He has a lot of example and doesn't pull any punches on the way Wall Street works.
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Summary: Warren Buffet would love this!
Review: This book is a cross between a textbook for would- be security analysts, a how-to book for corporate execs and investors and an expose of the Wall Street security analysis profession. It's a great insider look at the secutiry analysis business and he tells many of the seamy hidden sides of the Wall Street business of valuing stocks. At the same time, Hooke provides a very practical outline of how the pros come up with prices for stocks.. He tackles many different kinds of securities, from hi tech stocks to the distressed variety. The book does a good job of explaining things to the individual investor. It's a little complicated in the middle of the book, but I think most readers and investors can profit by his methodical approach. A 1990's version of Warren Buffet would like the book because it adheres to a modern value approach. Too many of the books I read on stock selection are so basic that they don't help much. This ones is a good guide, and it also can assist execdutives that need to value their company stocks.
Rating: 
Summary: comparison with Graham and Dodd is a joke
Review: This book is mis-titled. There is nothing "comprehensive" about it. At best, it provides a cursory introduction. If his book is any indication of the approach he applied while on Wall Street, I understand why the author is now a "consultant" instead. If you want to really learn how to value companies, buy a different book. And by the way, elevating this book to the same status as Graham and Dodd would, undoubtedly, cause Warren Buffet to choke on his cherry Coke. My copy of the book is now in the trash can where it belongs.
Rating:
Summary: A Must For The Serious Investor
Review: This book is the best I've ever read on stock valuation. It has helped me understand the fundamentals behind valuation. It is an easy read for those who have some background in finance but not impossible for the layman to understand.
Rating:
Summary: A very practical book
Review: This is a very practical book on security research and valuation. Although it might not provide in depth discussion on many topics, its breadth and completeness is unmatched by others on similar topics. I highly recommend it to those who are interested in equity analysis, for their future careers or personal interests, as the first book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Incisive
Review: This may be the best book currently available on investing because it is so relevant to today's security analysis,not just some ancient tome like Graham and Dodd's. this book is worlds better and much more practical. It emphasizes exactly what the "powers that be" on Wall Street look for and that is simply GOLD!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Incisive
Review: This may be the best book currently available on investing because it is so relevant to today's security analysis,not just some ancient tome like Graham and Dodd's. this book is worlds better and much more practical. It emphasizes exactly what the "powers that be" on Wall Street look for and that is simply GOLD!
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