I have personally used the Value Line Investment Survey for years. I started using their material when I was in my early twenties. Back in 1992 when the Web didnt exist, I had to visit my local library to do stock research. They are the granddaddy of investment research companies, and they have been in existence since 1931. In comparison, they make Morningstar look like a startup company. Both individual and professional investors have used Value Line to quickly gather investment research.

The famed Warren Buffet calls Value Line, An incredible value! I dont know of another system thats as good. The former investment manager Peter Lynch has called Value Line the next best thing to having your own private securities Analyst.

As a value investor like me, it makes sense that I would like a newsletter from Value Line. Their research is based upon company fundamentals, not technical analysis . Their newsletter offers quite a bit of information for all levels of investment experience: from the novice to the expert.

Value Lines Investment Tools

Value Lines investment research is not only available via print material thats mailed to you weekly, but it is also available on their website. Most people arent aware of this service. Each subscription provides three sections that are updated weekly and more frequently online. Value Line offers comprehensive research on over 1,700 stocks. The three main sections are:

• Ratings and Reports: Each week, a selection of full-page stock reports on approximately 130 stocks in specific sectors. The sectors are on a rotating basis so all of the stocks Value Line monitors are covered every 13 weeks. Each stock report covers current and historical financial data, detailed financial results, 3-5 year price and earning projections, charts, rankings, forward-looking, and objective analyst commentaries.
• Summary & Index: Similar to a wide-angle lens on a camera, this gives a high level view of the stock market with pre-set screens. If using their online service, you can create your own custom screens.
• Selection & Opinion: This section gives current economic, market stats, and forecasts.

The service can be purchased in print format or as an online subscription. Subscribers also have access to three model portfolios they may follow if they do not wish to construct their own portfolios.

for any the 30 stocks in the DOW for FREE!

Timeliness® Ranking

What makes Value Line Investment Survey unique is their Timeliness® Ranking system. It measures the expected price performance of the stock in the next 6 12 months. This rating is on a 1 to 5 scale with 1 representing the highest score achievable. This ranking is relative within the 1,700 stocks they monitor. The distribution of those ratings is as follows:

1. Top 100 Stocks
2. Above Average (300 Stocks)
3. Average (900 Stocks)
4. Below Average (300 Stocks)
5. Lowest Rated 100 Stocks

Investors are encouraged to purchase a portfolio of stocks across six or more industries with a ranking of 1 for Timeliness. Over time, investors are encouraged to monitor this rating, and when a stock falls to a 4 or 5 rating that stock then becomes a candidate for selling.

How Has Value Line Performed?

Mark Hurbert. a MarketWatch columnist who studies the performance of investment publications, has written for over a 20-year period, The Value Line Investment Survey is in first place for risk adjusted performance. (See this article and this article for more details)

Value Line Report Free Sample

To get an idea of whats in their newsletter, Ive included a sample of Value Line Ratings and Report from 2009.

How Useful Is Their Research?