Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Refinitiv Eikon====== Refinitiv Eikon is a high-powered financial information and analytics platform, essentially a digital command center for the world of finance. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife for professional investors, //analysts//, //traders//, and //portfolio managers//. It streams a tidal wave of real-time and historical data covering everything from [[stocks]], [[bonds]], and currencies to commodities and complex [[derivatives]]. Users can dive deep into company [[financial statements]], track market-moving news as it breaks, access exclusive research reports, and use sophisticated tools to chart, model, and analyze potential investments. Developed by [[Thomson Reuters]] and now owned by the [[London Stock Exchange Group]] (LSEG) after its acquisition of [[Refinitiv]], Eikon is a direct competitor to the famous [[Bloomberg Terminal]]. For the pros, it’s an indispensable tool for gaining an edge; for the rest of us, it’s a benchmark for the kind of information Wall Street has at its fingertips. ===== Why Should a Value Investor Care? ===== You might be thinking, "Okay, a fancy, expensive toy for Wall Street. What's that got to do with me and my [[value investing]] strategy?" Great question! While you're unlikely to have an Eikon subscription at home (they can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year), knowing it exists is crucial. It highlights the concept of //information asymmetry//—the reality that professionals often have access to more data, faster. However, this isn't a reason to be discouraged. It's a reason to be smarter. The core principles of value investing, championed by legends like [[Benjamin Graham]] and [[Warren Buffett]], don't rely on having the fastest news feed. They rely on timeless business analysis, a long-term perspective, and a focus on a company's intrinsic value—data points and insights that are more accessible than ever before, even without a tool like Eikon. ===== Key Features and How They Connect to Investing ===== Understanding Eikon’s features helps you know what kind of data to look for in more accessible alternatives. ==== Data and Analytics for Fundamental Analysis ==== This is the heart and soul of the platform for a value investor. Eikon provides comprehensive access to: * **Financials:** Decades of standardized financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. This is the raw material for any serious [[fundamental analysis]]. * **Estimates:** A consensus of what professional analysts expect a company to earn in the future. This is useful for gauging market expectations, which you can then challenge with your own research. * **Valuation:** Pre-calculated [[valuation multiples]] like the [[P/E ratio]], [[P/B ratio]], and [[EV/EBITDA]], both for a single company over time and compared against its peers. This is a shortcut to identifying potentially cheap or expensive stocks. * **Modeling:** Tools that integrate directly with Excel, allowing analysts to quickly build complex financial models, such as a [[discounted cash flow (DCF) model]], to estimate a company's intrinsic value. ==== News and Research ==== Information is power, and Eikon is a firehose. It provides instant access to global news feeds (including its parent company, Reuters) and a massive library of research reports from investment banks and [[broker]] houses. For a value investor, this is less about reacting to a headline and more about the "scuttlebutt" method—gathering bits of information from various sources to build a complete picture of a company's business, competitive landscape, and management quality. It also helps in understanding the prevailing [[macroeconomic]] winds that could affect your investments. ===== The Individual Investor's Toolbox: Eikon Alternatives ===== So, you can't afford the Ferrari of financial data. No problem! You can still build an incredible investment portfolio with a reliable sedan. The modern individual investor has a wealth of powerful and affordable (or free!) tools at their disposal. Here's where to look: * **Free Public Sources:** Never underestimate the basics! Company investor relations websites are a goldmine, offering annual reports ([[10-K]] filings in the U.S.), quarterly reports, and investor presentations for free. Websites like //Yahoo Finance// and //Google Finance// provide excellent overviews, charts, and key statistics. * **Freemium & Affordable Services:** Platforms like //Finviz// offer fantastic stock screeners for free. Services like //Seeking Alpha// and //Morningstar// provide a mix of free content and premium subscriptions that offer deep-dive analysis and research at a fraction of the cost of a professional terminal. * **Your Brokerage Account:** Don't forget the tools you already have! Most major brokerage firms (like //Charles Schwab//, //Fidelity//, or //Interactive Brokers//) provide their clients with surprisingly robust research portals, including analyst reports, screeners, and data tools, as part of their service. The key takeaway? You don't need Eikon to be a successful value investor. What you need is curiosity, discipline, and the knowledge of where to find reliable information to make your own informed decisions.