Book excerpt: Based on the value investment principle advocated by such investment greats as Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, this book shows investors how to distill data from the markets to select profitable stocks, avoiding investment risks and traps. The author explains formulas and data analysis methods through which the reader can calculate the potential for profits of company stocks. Analyzing the fundamentals of a company, the common sense approach taken by the book is easy to understand and practice. A ready reference for stock market investors, market analysts, investment bankers, and portfolio management services companies, the book is replete with illustrations, diagrams and examples of Indian origin to give even a lay reader an understanding and appreciation of the work.