PfScan User s Guide. PfScan Chart

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1 A GPS in the Stock Market Jungle PfScan User s Guide 1. Objective of PfScan PfScan is a function of StockPointer ( that produces an on-line portrait of an entire portfolio s (Pf) economic diagnosis and evolution (Scan) based on its stock make-up. For each stock contained in a portfolio, PfScan produces an Economic Performance (EPI) measure as well as an Economic Risk (FGV) measure. The following graph is an example of the resulting chart: PfScan Chart Each dot on the graph represents a stock of the portfolio while the red PF dot is the weighted average of the whole portfolio. PfScan can therefore be used to effectively: measure the wealth of an investment versus its level of risk; easily track a portfolio s economic evolution; establish an economic assessment of a model or a prospective client s portfolio; perform an economic comparison of companies in a specific industrial sector; analyze the compliance of a client s investments with regard to their targeted risk level. Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 1 of 7

2 2. Objective of this guide This guide has been designed to provide a brief explanation of how to use the PfScan function. It does not intent to explain the economic concepts that underlie PfScan; appropriate training in finance is required to understand them all. Moreover, it focuses solely on PfScan and does not deal with any of the other functions offered by StockPointer in its main menu: The EVA Summary The SPiX Indexes (Canadian and US) The SPscore rating system The Search function The Sector Analysis 3. How to use PfScan 3.1. Activate the function PfScan is activated using the box shown below, which appears in the main menu: To activate PfScan, first click on the down arrow of the drop-down menu and then click on NEW PF or on any listed portfolio in order to access it; NEW PF is an empty portfolio already saved in PfScan, to be used to create new portfolios. In the future, the names of the portfolios you have saved will appear in this drop-down menu, which allows you to access the desired portfolio by clicking on its name. Once you have selected NEW PF, a master template for creating a list of portfolio stocks will appear in the following format: Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 2 of 7

3 By choosing a portfolio that already contains individual stocks and shows in the portfolio list, the stock list will also be shown: 3.2. How PfScan works The general idea behind how PfScan works involves entering data in the VARIABLE field below and then activating a command related to that data by making a selection from the drop-down menu under COMMAND, as shown below. The COMMAND menu offers the following commands: Portfolio 1 Portfolio 2 Exemples of names of portfolios already saved PfScan Add new stocks Remove a stock * Modify a selected weight Modify Purchase Cost * Select weighting with or without price Create a new portfolio Rename this portfolio Save as Send a copy of this Pf to Delete this Pf * Stock management commands Portfolio management commands Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 3 of 7

4 3.3. Using the commands The following table explains how to execute various commands and their required sequence in order to manage a portfolio in PfScan: Task to be performed 1 st command to be 2 nd and 3 rd commands to be Display the PfScan chart from a list of stocks. and click on PfScan Note 1: After the stocks that make up the portfolio have been entered. Note 2: To print the chart and the master template of stocks, click on the PDF icon located at top of page. or simply Click on the following icon located at top of page: Landscape format is recommended. Display the SPscore list for all stocks contained in the portfolio. Click on the following icon located at top of page: Note 1: see the SPscore function for more details. Create a new portfolio. Tasks related to an entire portfolio After having selected New PF from the main PfScan menu, enter the name of the new portfolio in the E.g., Portfolio 1 or From any portfolio, enter the name of the new portfolio in the VARIABLE field. and click on Rename this portfolio. and click on Create a new portfolio. Display a specific portfolio. Rename a specific portfolio. (Always begin by displaying the portfolio in question.) and click on the name of the desired portfolio. E.g., Portfolio 1 Note: This command also lets you return to the master template when the PfScan chart is displayed on screen. Enter the portfolio s new name in the and click on Rename this portfolio. Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 4 of 7

5 Task to be performed 1 st command to be 2 nd and 3 rd commands to be Save a portfolio under a new name while keeping the initial portfolio under its previous name. (Begin by displaying the portfolio in question.) Enter the portfolio s new name in the and click on Save as. Note: By default, all the units will be reset to 100. If you want to keep the same number of units as in the original portfolio, use the Send a copy of this Pf to command, which is explained below (by sending it to Send a copy of a specific portfolio to another StockPointer subscriber for who you already know the User Name. e.g.: michael Note: The User Name can also be yours. (Begin by displaying the portfolio in question.) Delete a specific portfolio. (Begin by displaying the portfolio in question.) Enter the User Name (e.g.: michael) in the Note: You can enter several user names at the same time by separating them with a space. Click on the empty box under the * beside the (A checkmark will appear in the box.) Note: all instructions followed by an * require that you click on the empty box under the * beside the VARIABLE field before executing the instruction. your own User Name). and click on Send a copy of this Pf to. and click on Delete this Pf *. Add one or more stocks to a portfolio. Tasks related to portfolio stocks Enter the stock ticker (e.g., ry) or letters in the name of the company to be added (e.g., royal) in the Note 1: You can also enter several stocks at the same time by separating them with a space. Note 2: If the software retrieves several names, a list of search results will appear and all you need to do is click on the symbol that corresponds to your choice. and click on Add new stocks or simply click Enter. Note: if for a single symbol or symbols that are alike, many companies are identified, the list containing these companies will be shown. Then you have to choose the companies that you want to see added in the portfolio and click on Add all selected symbols. Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 5 of 7

6 Task to be performed 1 st command to be 2 nd and 3 rd commands to be Example of a search result: Example of such a result: Remove a stock from a portfolio. Add a Cash amount to the portfolio Modify the number of units for a stock in a portfolio. Modify the price of a stock included in a portfolio. Note: Using the standard cut and paste function in Windows, you can transfer the symbols appearing at the bottom of a search result to the VARIABLE field to avoid having to enter one symbol at a time. Select the stock in question by clicking on the empty box beside the name of the company to be removed (a checkmark will appear in the box). Use the $C symbol (meaning Cash Canadian) in the Select the stock in question by clicking on the empty box beside the name of the company in question (a checkmark will appear in the box). Select the stock in question by clicking on the empty box beside the name of the company in question (a checkmark will appear in the box). Click on the empty box under the * beside the and click on Remove a stock *. and click on Add new stocks or simply click Enter. Note: you can later on modify the amount of Cash by modifying either the number of units or the price of the stock. Enter the new number of units (e.g., 500) in the and click on Modify a selected weighting. Enter the new stock price (e.g.: 52.80) in the Click on the empty box under the * beside the and click on Modify Purchase Cost *. Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 6 of 7

7 Task to be performed 1 st command to be 2 nd and 3 rd commands to be Change the calculation of a portfolio s weighted average by considering (or not) the prices of the portfolio s stocks. and click on Select weighting with or without price. Note: Select the desired option from those illustrated below: Note: The option with the price is the one generally used for portfolio management calculations. Last update: August 2008 PfScan User Guide Page 7 of 7