Technical Analysis vs Fundamental Analysis: Pros, Cons, Which to Use?

An In-depth article on Technical Analysis vs Fundamental Analysis…

Every trader and investor in the financial markets are probably familiar with these two analysis methodologies. While both methods aim to help traders and investors make informed decisions about buying and selling assets, they approach the process differently.

In this post, we’ll highlight:

• Fundamental vs technical analysis,
• Pros and limitations of each,
• 11 major differences between them,
• Scenarios where one is better than the other, and
• Scenarios where the two should be used together.

Fundamental Analysis

When being explained to a 10-year-old…

Fundamental analysis is a way to figure out if a company is doing well or not. This is done by looking at the important things that make it successful, like how much money it’s making (revenue), how much it owes (liability & debt), and how much it’s worth (net value).

When being explained to a professional trader/investor…

Fundamental analysis is a method of analyzing stocks or companies to determine their value based on factors such as their financial health, economic and industry conditions, and management quality.

It involves analyzing financial statements, economic indicators, and other qualitative and quantitative data to gain insights into a company’s future performance and profitability.

Technical Analysis

When being explained to a 10-year-old…

Technical analysis is like being a detective who looks at how the price of something has changed over time. By looking at how the price has moved in the past, they can try to figure out if the price will go up or down in the future.

When being explained to a professional trader/investor…

Technical analysis is a method of analyzing financial markets by studying past price and volume data to predict future price movements. This analysis involves using charts and technical indicators to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and potential trading opportunities.

Benefits and Pros of Fundamental Analysis – For Traders, Investors, Shareholders and Executives

Here are 7 relevant benefits of fundamental analysis that technical analysis cannot provide:

1. Determines the intrinsic value of a company’s stock.
2. Identifies undervalued or overvalued stocks based on fundamental factors.
3. Evaluates the competitive advantage and market position of a company.
4. Assesses the financial health and stability of a company.
5. Analyzes industry and economic trends to anticipate long-term market movements.
6. Helps identify potential risks and opportunities associated with a company’s future growth.
7. Provides insights into a company’s management team and corporate governance practices.

Limitations and Cons of Fundamental Analysis – For Market Traders and Investors

1. Requires extensive research and analysis.
2. Can be time-consuming and complex.
3. Market reactions may not align with fundamental analysis.
4. Difficulty in accurately predicting short-term price movements.
5. Vulnerability to market sentiment and irrational investor behaviour.
6. Subject to biases and interpretation of qualitative factors.
7. For fundamental analysis to work, the financial data must be accurate and reliable.

Benefits and Pros of Technical Analysis

Here are 7 relevant benefits of technical analysis that fundamental analysis cannot provide:

1. Focuses on price and volume patterns.
2. Provides clear entry and exit points for trades.
3. Helps identify short-term trading opportunities.
4. Utilizes chart patterns and technical indicators for trend analysis.
5. Can be effective for timing market entry and exit.
6. Helps identify support and resistance levels for price movements.
7. Can be applied to various financial instruments, including stocks, currencies, and commodities.

Limitations and Cons of Technical Analysis

1. Relies heavily on historical data.
2. Ignores underlying company fundamentals.
3. Subject to interpretation and biases.
4. Limited in predicting long-term market trends.
5. Vulnerable to false signals and market noise.
6. Can be challenging for novice traders to understand and apply.
7. Does not consider external factors such as news events or economic indicators.

Technical Analysis vs Fundamental Analysis: Key Differences

To understand better, we have created a table showing 11 major differences between fundamental analysis and technical analysis.

Factors	Technical Analysis	Fundamental Analysis
Focus	Price and volume patterns	Company financials and industry analysis
Data Used	Historical price and volume data, technical indicators	Financial statements, economic data, news
Time Horizon	Short-term trading	Long-term investing
Entry/Exit Points	Identifies entry and exit points based on patterns	Assesses valuation and intrinsic value of a company
Key Factors	Charts, patterns, technical indicators	Financials, growth prospects, industry analysis
Market Behavior	Analyzes market trends, investor sentiment	Considers company fundamentals, economic conditions
Decision Making	Relies on historical patterns and signals	Evaluates company performance and growth potential
Investor Type	Popular among active traders, day traders	Preferred by long-term investors, value investors
Reaction to News	Focuses on immediate price reactions to news/events	Assesses the valuation and intrinsic value of a company
Limitations	Relies on historical data, ignores fundamentals	Requires extensive research, time-consuming
Applicability	Can be applied to various financial instruments	Primarily used for individual stocks

Please note that the table provides a general overview, and individual preferences and approaches may vary among traders and investors.

Technical Analysis vs Fundamental Analysis: Which to Use?

Fundamental Analysis is Better For:

1. Long-term investing
2. Value investing
3. Assessing the financial health of a company
4. Evaluating growth prospects and industry analysis
5. Making informed investment decisions based on fundamental factors
6. Analyzing company management and corporate governance

Technical Analysis is Better For:

1. Short-term trading
2. Identifying short-term trading opportunities
3. Identifying entry and exit points for trades
4. Timing market entry and exit
5. Analyzing price and volume patterns
6. Utilizing technical indicators and chart patterns

When to Use Both Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis

Both Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis can be used together to gain a more comprehensive understanding of an investment opportunity. For example, let’s consider risk management.

Risk Management: Use fundamental analysis to identify potential risks associated with a company. Use technical analysis to set stop-loss levels or determine support and resistance levels for managing risk.

Here are other scenarios where combining both approaches can be beneficial:

1. During market volatility

2. When confirming investment decisions

3. When diversifying your trading portfolio

4. In markets that are trading within a narrow range

---

Recommended for Next Read

• How to Do Technical Analysis – For Traders and Investors
• How to Do Fundamental Analysis – For Traders and Investors
• MetaTrader 4 vs MetaTrader 5: Pros and Cons, Which should I use?