The number one feature that attracted Sungarden to YCharts was the ability to chart many different data points on a stock, such as the price/earnings ratio or dividend yield, as well as the stock price.

“For example, we do a lot of dividend investing, and created a concept called YARP—Yield at a Reasonable Price,” says Isbitts. “So if a stock was yielding 3%, it sold off and is now yielding 4.5%, but we think the business is in solid shape, to us that is like buying something on sale. With YCharts we can instantly see where a stock is trading versus its yield history, as well its price  history. It’s not as easy to track those movements on other systems.”

Sungarden has also been able to strengthen and institutionalize its proprietary stock selection technique. “Our rating system takes into account a multitude of data points on a stock, and is the foundation of our research method,” explains Isbitts. “I’ve been trying for 20 years to create a robot version of my thought process that can act as an automated independent check.”

Using the fundamental analysis capabilities within YCharts, Sungarden can now collate 60 or 70 different metrics of a stock in one place. The team then determines each metric’s importance within its dividend or growth portfolios, weights each data point accordingly, and calculates a rating score.

“It has allowed us to take the dream of our own rating system and finally make that a reality,” says Isbitts

Alongside its investment approach, the firm seeks to distinguish its services through its diverse library of client communications. The focus is on providing clear and frequent communications on relevant topics – such as explaining changes to the portfolio and updates on market events—to further educate and inform clients about what is happening with their assets and the wider market.

One element is the monthly Investment Climate Report, which aims to provide an easy to-understand overview of the market conditions that impact clients’ wealth. “It’s sort of an indicator of indicators, a macroinvesting version of our stock selection system,” Isbitts explains.

“We take 10 or 11 different items that help us gauge the valuation and momentum level of  the broad stock market to decide how optimistic or pessimistic to be. Formulating the indicator is quite complex, but YCharts provides us with a lot of different data that we use to create that.”

Isbitts also produces a weekly MarketWatch column that addresses relevant current issues. “The stock rating analysis I set out in the articles couldn’t happen if it were not for the YCharts data and API,” he notes.

In the three years since Sungarden began using YCharts, it has become the start and end point for improving the firm’s client experience and service, says Isbitts. “YCharts is crucial not only in powering our investment research, but in enabling us to share our thinking in a way that is easy for people to understand.”

In an increasingly complex investment world, that is an enormous advantage.