To reduce large files of data into manageable subsets of stocks marked for further review, bottom-up investors utilize spreadsheet software to sort key financial ratios calculated for all equities contained within. Flaws associated with the commonly used price-to-earnings (PE), price-to-book...

We examine the operating performance of preferred stock issuers using the sample of preferred stock issues during 1991-2000. We find the median profit margin and Return On Assets (ROA) of the preferred stock issuers deteriorate until the year of preferred issuance, hit the bottom in the year of...