Glossary

# Glossary

Quick reference for Manifest Investing terminology.

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## Core Concepts

**Dashboard**
Customizable workspace for tracking and analyzing your portfolio or watchlist stocks.

**Manifest Method**
Our investment approach combining quality analysis with valuation timing, based on 70+ years of proven investment club methodology.

**MIPAR (Manifest Investment Projected Annual Return)**
The median PAR of all stocks we track, essentially the market baseline for expected returns.

**PAR (Projected Annual Return)**
Expected annual return over the next 5 years, combining price appreciation and dividend yield.

**Quality Rating**
Score from 0-100 measuring company excellence based on financial strength, earnings predictability, relative growth, and profitability.

**Sweet Spot**
Ideal buying zone where PAR falls between MIPAR+5% and MIPAR+10%, offering above-market returns without excessive risk.

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## Quality Ratings

| Rating | Range | Color | Meaning |
|--------|-------|-------|---------|
| Excellent | 80+ | Blue | Top-tier companies with strong financials |
| Good | 65-80 | Green | Solid companies worth considering |
| Average | 35-65 | Yellow | Mixed quality, proceed with caution |
| Poor | <35 | Red | Weak companies, generally avoid |

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## Financial Metrics

**Debt-to-Equity Ratio**
Company's total debt divided by shareholder equity. Measures financial leverage.

**Earnings Predictability**
How consistent a company's earnings growth has been over time.

**Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E)**
Stock price divided by earnings per share. Basic valuation metric.

**Return on Equity (ROE)**
Net income divided by shareholder equity. Measures management efficiency.

**Revenue Growth Rate**
Year-over-year percentage increase in company sales.

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## Investment Terms

**Diversification**
Spreading investments across different stocks, sectors, or asset classes to reduce risk.

**Dollar-Cost Averaging**
Investing fixed amounts regularly regardless of stock price to smooth out volatility.

**Dividend Yield**
Annual dividend payment divided by stock price. Income return percentage.

**Market Capitalization**
Total value of company's shares. Stock price multiplied by shares outstanding.

**Volatility**
Degree of price fluctuation. Higher volatility means more dramatic price swings.

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## Platform Features

**Alerts**
Notifications when stocks enter or leave your target buying zones. Access via the Alerts link in the main navigation.

**Dashboards**
Customizable workspaces for tracking your portfolio holdings and watchlist stocks with key metrics like PAR, Quality, and diversification.

**Stock Screen**
Filters for finding stocks meeting specific quality or valuation criteria. Access via the Stock Screen menu, which includes Quick Screens and your Saved Searches.

**Watchlist**
Collection of stocks you're monitoring for potential purchase. Add stocks with zero shares to any Dashboard to track them without affecting portfolio metrics.

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## Learn More

- [Understanding Quality Ratings](/guide/core-concepts/quality-rating)
- [Using PAR for Stock Selection](/guide/core-concepts/par)
- [Setting Up Your Dashboard](/guide/getting-started/first-dashboard)