what are common value investing metrics 
along with analyzing a company s price to earnings ratio which can illustrate how expensive it is in relation to its earnings common metrics include the price to book ratio free cash flow fcf and debt to equity ratio d e who is mr market first coined by benjamin graham mr market represents a hypothetical investor that is prone to sharp mood swings of fear apathy and euphoria mr market represents the consequences of emotionally reacting to the stock market rather than rationally or with fundamental analysis as an archetype for behavior mr market speaks to the price fluctuations inherent in markets and the emotions that can influence these on extreme scales such as greed and fear the bottom linevalue investing is a long term strategy warren buffett for example buys stocks with the intention of holding them almost indefinitely he once said i never attempt to make money on the stock market i buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years you will probably want to sell your stocks when it comes time to make a major purchase or retire but by holding a variety of stocks and maintaining a long term outlook you can sell your stocks only when their price exceeds their fair market value and the price you paid for them correction feb 8 2024 this article has been corrected to state that benjamin graham recommended buying stocks when they were priced at two thirds or less of their liquidation value 