How many years of current earnings you're paying for. Lower = cheaper, but growth stocks justify higher P/E. Compare to sector peers and 5-year historical average.

Compares price to net asset value. Below 1x means you're buying assets at a discount. Banks and PSUs are best compared on P/B. Tech/IT typically trade at 5–20x P/B.

Profit generated per rupee of shareholder equity. The #1 test of business quality. Above 20% consistently = excellent management. Below 10% = capital is poorly used.

Measures volatility vs Nifty 50. Beta of 1.5 means the stock moves 1.5x more than the index. High beta = high risk/reward. Defensive sectors like FMCG/pharma have beta <1.