# Stock Market Investing (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.creativelive.com/classes/stock-market-investing-self-paced>

## Overview

Get a clear picture of what actually drives stock prices and how investors determine what a stock is really worth. You'll work through the essentials of valuation, including P/E ratios and DCF analysis, dig into financial statements, and build a solid foundation in stock investing fundamentals. Real-world examples from companies like Google and Apple keep the concepts grounded and give you a practical framework for conducting your own fundamental investment research.

This course is built on genuine financial understanding, not shortcuts or get-rich-quick thinking. The principles you'll take away are rooted in the value investing philosophies of legendary investors like Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham, giving you a thoughtful, time-tested way of looking at any investment opportunity.

## What you'll learn

- Build a strong foundation in stock investing, covering indices, dividends, and ETFs
- Break down companies using valuation techniques like P/E ratios, EV/EBITDA multiples, and DCF modeling
- Get comfortable with key financial indicators including market cap, enterprise value, and cost of capital
- Understand how earnings releases, interest rates, and Federal Reserve policy influence stock prices
- Get introduced to bond investing, including bond types, yields, spreads, and credit risk
- Explore real estate investing through REITs, cap rates, and the role of leverage
- Dig into stock options, hedging strategies, and the Black-Scholes pricing model
- Unpack the causes and consequences of the 2008 financial crisis, from mortgage-backed securities to credit default swaps

## Curriculum

#### Stock Investing

- Stock fundamentals
- Stock indices
- Liquidity
- Dividend yields
- Exchange traded funds

#### Stock Valuation

- Market capitalization
- Enterprise value
- P/E Ratios
- Shortfalls of P/E ratios
- EV/EBITDA multiples
- Intro to DCF modeling
- CAPM and cost of capital

#### Stock Movements

- Earnings releases
- Analyst earnings estimates
- Economic data
- Interest rates and the Federal Reserve
- Earnings transcripts and company presentations

#### Bond Investing

- Types of bonds
- Bond prices, yields, and spreads
- Credit ratings and risk
- Bankruptcy

#### Intro to Real Estate Investing

- Types of real estate assets
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS)
- Capitalization rates
- Mortgages and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios
- How does leverage impact returns?

#### Stock Options

- Call options
- Put options
- Option strategies and hedging
- Black-Scholes Model

#### Financial Crisis

- Mortgage-backed securities
- Credit default swaps
- How did the housing marketing collapse spread to the major banks and other financial institutions?
- Who is to blame for the financial crisis? (regulators, investment banks, homeowners, mortgage lenders, rating agencies)

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $299