Understanding the factors that affect stock price movements becomes essential for investors and analysts alike instock markets. Many theories have developed over time, each attempting to explain the intricate dynamics behind stock price fluctuations. We are going to look at three well-known theories that explain how and why stock prices fluctuate.
Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)
According to the Efficient Market Hypothesis, stock prices always accurately reflect all available information. This theory holds that active trading or studying historical price data cannot consistently outperform the market. EMH supporters believe that because stock prices react swiftly to new information, it is difficult to gain an advantage and consistently outperform the market.
There are three levels of EMH:
- Weak EMH: This level states that all past prices of a security are reflected in its current price. This means that technical analysis, which uses historical price data to predict future price movements, is not effective.
- Semi-strong EMH: This level states that all publicly available information is reflected in the current price of a security. This means that fundamental analysis, which uses financial statements and economic data to evaluate security, can be used to identify undervalued or overvalued securities, but it cannot be used to consistently beat the market.
- Strong EMH: This level states that all information, both public and private, is reflected in the current price of a security. This means that it is impossible to beat the market, even with insider information.
Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis is a method of evaluating a security by analyzing its underlying financial statements and economic data. Fundamental analysts believe that the price of a security should reflect its intrinsic value, which is the value of the company based on its assets, liabilities, earnings, and future prospects.
Fundamental analysts use a variety of factors to evaluate a security, including:
- The company's financial performance
- The company's industry and competitive landscape
- The economic outlook
- Interest rates
Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is a method of evaluating a security by analyzing its price movements and trading patterns. Technical analysts believe that past price movements can be used to predict future price movements.
Technical analysts use a variety of tools to analyze price movements, including:
- Charts
- Moving averages (MA)
- Fibonacci retracements
- Relative strength indexes (RSI)
The EMH, fundamental analysis, and technical analysis are all different approaches to investing. The EMH states that it is impossible to consistently beat the market, while fundamental analysis and technical analysis believe that it is possible to identify undervalued or overvalued securities and profit from them.
The best approach to investing depends on your individual goals and risk tolerance. If you are a long-term investor who is looking to minimize risk, then fundamental analysis may be a good option for you. If you are a short-term investor who is looking to make profits, then technical analysis may be a better option.
FAQs
The EMH states that it is impossible to consistently beat the market, while fundamental analysis and technical analysis believe that it is possible to identify undervalued or overvalued securities and profit from them.
What is the difference between fundamental and technical analysis and EMH? ›
Note that the main distinction between EMH and fundamental and technical analysis is that EMH projects there to be no difference between true valuation and price whereas fundamental analysis looks for a discrepancy between the two based on performance parameters and technical analysis looks to project where the stock ...
Which is more effective fundamental analysis or technical analysis? ›
The Bottom Line. Fundamental analysis is most often used when determining the quality of long-term investments in a wide array of securities and markets, while technical analysis is used more in the review of short-term investment decisions such as the active trading of stocks.
What does EMH say about technical analysis? ›
Weak efficiency: This type of EMH claims that all past prices of a stock are reflected in today's stock price. Therefore, technical analysis cannot be used to predict and beat the market.
What is the difference between efficient market and technical analysis? ›
The assumptions that differ between technical analysis (TA) and the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) are as follows: The TA is based on the past movements of the stock's price, whereas the EMH assumes that all new and old information is already reflected in the value of the stock.
How do you differentiate between technical and economic efficiency in marketing? ›
The difference between technological and economic efficiency is that technological efficiency concerns the quantity of inputs used in production for a given level of output, whereas economic efficiency concerns the cost of the inputs used.
Which efficient market hypothesis rejects both technical and fundamental analysis? ›
The semi-strong form submits that because public information is part of a stock's current price, investors cannot utilize either technical or fundamental analysis, though information not available to the public can help investors.
Should I learn fundamental or technical analysis first? ›
To begin a blended approach, you might initially gauge the intrinsic value of an asset through fundamental analysis. This involves evaluating financial statements, market trends, and other qualitative and quantitative factors. Later, technical analysis can be used to identify the best entry and exit points.
Which method is best to analyze an investment? ›
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
DCF analysis is a method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows. The DCF model is a key tool in valuation, helping analysts determine the present value of expected future earnings.
What are the weakness of fundamental analysis? ›
1. Subjectivity: One of the primary limitations of fundamental analysis is its subjectivity. evaluating financial statements and determining the intrinsic value of a stock involves making assumptions and judgments. Different analysts may interpret the same information differently, leading to varying conclusions.
Critics of efficiency argue that there are several instances of recent market history where there is overwhelming evidence that market prices could not have been set by rational investors and that psychological considerations must have played the dominant role.
What is a drawback of EMH? ›
Despite its significance, the efficient-market hypothesis is not without criticisms and limitations. Some critics argue that several factors prevent markets from being perfectly efficient, including: Behavioral biases—errors in judgment, decision-making, and thinking when evaluating information.
What are the problems with EMH? ›
So there are four critical problems that hamper the validity of empirical testing of the EMH: (a) inappropriate statistical models of price changes (the price variability problem); (b) joint hypothesis problem; (c) theoretical possibility of autocorrelation of successive price changes in an informationally efficient ...
Which is better fundamental analysis or technical analysis? ›
A technical analysis typically only reviews stock charts and data from the past few months, weeks or days. This type of analysis is often preferable for short-term trades, while fundamental analyses may be more useful for long-term trades or investments.
What is the difference between fundamental analysis and EMH? ›
The EMH, fundamental analysis, and technical analysis are all different approaches to investing. The EMH states that it is impossible to consistently beat the market, while fundamental analysis and technical analysis believe that it is possible to identify undervalued or overvalued securities and profit from them.
Does technical analysis outperform the market? ›
Using technical analysis in trading can help improve your odds, increasing the relative number of successful trades you complete. But it's not perfect. There will always be factors in the market that you can't control. So trading with technical analysis is neither perfect nor black and white.
What are the different types of EMH? ›
The EMH exists in three forms: weak, semi-strong and strong, and it evaluates the influence of MNPI on market prices. EMH contends that since markets are efficient and current prices reflect all information, attempts to outperform the market are subject to chance not skill.
What is the difference between economic analysis and technical analysis? ›
Methodology and Techniques: Fundamental analysis involves examining financial ratios, such as P/E and macroeconomic indicators. Technical analysis, on the other hand, uses chart patterns, oscillators, and trend lines to gauge market sentiment and potential price movements.
What is the difference between EMH and behavioral finance? ›
While the efficient market hypothesis supports people are rational investors who are important part of financial market, behavioral finance which is alternative model accepts people are normal and they can be irrational.
What is fundamental analysis vs technical analysis vs sentiment analysis? ›
Technical analysis looks at past price movements to try and predict future price action. Fundamental analysis looks at economic factors that could affect currency prices. Sentiment analysis looks at how psychology affects trading decisions. All three types of analysis can be used in conjunction to get the best results.