Full Disclosure Finance

By Justin

Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, and Investopedia

Here’s a description of the three financial information sites I use most often with a brief evaluation.

I have developed a rating system that will be applied to all future lists.

My sophisticated, scientific, highly objective rating scale is as follows:

Total Green Light Special:  This is a must have, no excuses for missing this one!

Worth every penny:  Well said

Comes in Handy:  You will find some important info, a little junk.

Rarely Useful:  Mostly junk, contains minimal content worth remembering.

Dumb and Dumber:  Like Billy Madison before them, everyone in the room is now dumber for having (read) it.  If you rely on this stuff you better be lucky! 

Google Finance
Key Benefits: Charts available on opening page for any stock allow returns to be computed over any time interval. Easy to navigate and charts show all news items, and dividend dates which helps me understand price movements without having to click between a News page and Chart page.
If you are researching a stock for the first time, its list of competitors does some of your homework for you, especially in a new industry.
Google contains the fewest number of ads, leaving a clean, uncluttered appearance.

Downside: Low on commentary and discussion from analysts and other financial gurus. This is a downside for me because I enjoy hearing as many opinions as possible.

Overall: Comes in Handy – when I’m looking at a stock for the first time, this is the spot.

Yahoo Finance
Key Benefit: Great for options, you can flip between the stock and its options easily. They’ve got plenty of gurus and analyst info. If you’re ever stuck on a deserted island with a broadband card, you’ll have plenty to read!

Downside: Charts are weak. They produce an image with no news plot or returns. However, the new beta charts have these features but require you to open a new window and still don’t display news in the same way as Google. Appearance is overwhelming, not easy to navigate the first time.

Overall: Comes in Handy for the guru / analyst content and options. A combination of Google and Yahoo would be ideal, Yahoogle Finance where are you?

Investopedia
Key Benefit: The best starting point for all topics that have ever had anything to do with money! The trading simulators are the best way to get comfortable with investing and compete against others. It is easy to motivate yourself to perform thorough research if it helps you move up the list of thousands of names. I was messing around with various RIM, Microsoft, and Apple option strategies and didn’t need to use any money. It was fantastic, I had success early on and vaulted into the top 10, it was a great feeling.

For a simulator, start one that has been going on for the shortest period of time because the rankings are computed according to total rate of return on principal investment (regardless of time). Some of the people have been in these games for years already, making it difficult to catch up unless you really uncover some winners. Hot Tip: You could commission a study to look into the seaweed content of Lululemon product and short it before hand, but I have a feeling that one’s been done.

Overall: Green Light Special. This is the best online resource for developing a foundation in all topics related to investing. There are even study tools for CFA and other exams.

So Part A in The List has one clear winner, Investopedia. It is a must visit and a great reference point for your entire investing journey. Stay tuned for the next one concerning magazines.

Please give us a review of your favorites too.