Investing isn't easy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Having access to the most powerful analytical tools available helps – a lot. Great investing requires great data and evidence-based analysis. But there's something more basic underneath that, too...

Editor's note: Anyone who has spent time in the markets knows that finding success over the long term can be hard... And amid an environment with uncertainty and fear in the financial media, that can make the task even harder.  That brings us to today's classic message from Chaikin Analytics founder Marc Chaikin...  Longtime readers will likely recognize this essay. We've published it a couple of times in the Chaikin PowerFeed over the past few years. In it, Marc shares a simple tool that the professional investors use to give themselves an edge over the amateurs in the long run. And it's just as important today as ever... Pro Investors Do This... Amateurs Don't By Marc Chaikin, founder, Chaikin Analytics Investing isn't easy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Having access to the most powerful analytical tools available helps – a lot. Great investing requires great data and evidence-based analysis. But there's something more basic underneath that, too... It determines, right from the outset, whether an investor will find long-term success in the markets. And it's frustratingly simple... I'm talking about having a process. Seriously, every successful investor has a process. None of these big shots just shoot from the hip. Sure, on TV, these high-profile investors might come across as cavalier. But don't let that fool you... They all have a process. Having a repeatable process is simply the way to be successful on Wall Street. I know, I know... this might sound painfully obvious. Or it might sound like a Yogi Berra truism. But I can't count the number of times I've talked to individual investors who have little to no process. It's shocking, really. Think about it... Recommended Links: 10x Your Money Off These Cryptos? (Hint: NOT Bitcoin) A crypto legend steps forward to reveal what's NEXT for bitcoin... Plus, he shares the details on a handful of little-known cryptos that could make you 1,000% gains (and take less than $1 to get started.) Don't miss out – until tomorrow, get the critical details here. World's biggest multibillionaire investor group is buying THIS by the tons Most folks have completely missed the fact that there's one group of investors so powerful they're literally buying ONE THING by the tons... Stacking it in their locked vaults on pallets in record numbers. Find out what it is and see how you can get in with just a few dollars. Most everyday investors have goals. And some even have a general workflow. Despite that, most of the folks I've come across just kind of "poke around for opportunities." The truth about great investing is that it's tedious... In fact, it's so tedious that most mom-and-pop investors simply can't keep up with it. I don't blame them. It's a monumental task. Be honest... Do you have a defined exit strategy for every stock you own? Is it written down? And is it more than just saying, "I'll take gains when it feels right"? Even after you decide all of that, you need to deal with a flood of information for every stock in your portfolio. The world doesn't stop when you buy a stock. What about earnings reports? Do you take those into account? How about insider activity or expert analyst ratings? We've just scratched the surface. And I bet it already feels overwhelming. Even if your investing strategy is technical in nature (meaning it's based on the price action of the stock instead of business fundamentals), you're still confronted with mountains of information. Unless you love spreadsheets, it's probably too much. And most mom-and-pop investors end up making compromises. They rationalize "gut feeling" decision making. That might work occasionally. But it's not a path to consistent success. Again, the foundation of reliable success on Wall Street is having a process... This is why I developed the Power Gauge system. As regular PowerFeed readers know, the Power Gauge crunches data on 20 individual factors. And it puts out clear and actionable recommendations based on those factors. In other words... the Power Gauge has a process built into it. Imagine that a friend turns you on to a small-cap stock. It's getting almost no attention from analysts. But the story he tells you about it sounds great... You want to invest. And you're about to click "buy." But then, you notice the company's next earnings report is just a week or two away. If you're like me, just thinking about taking a big hit on an earnings play makes your stomach turn. Your friend made the stock sound like a great opportunity. But you don't want to lose your shirt. So... what's your process? How do you evaluate a situation like this? Our Power Gauge system makes sure you have industry-leading quantitative tools at your side. You can enter the ticker and get an instant reading. This rating takes the company's earnings trend into account and will put you ahead of the crowd when making decisions. You don't have to use the Power Gauge to succeed in investing. But I know where many individual investors suffer... The issue isn't finding great ideas. Instead, the problem is having a process for owning them – and for knowing what to do as things change. The Power Gauge solves that problem. But even if this tool isn't for you, make sure you have a process when investing. Understand why you're buying. And know what to do if things change. Have a plan for when you'll sell and stick to it. If you can do those things, you'll be a much more successful long-term investor. Good investing, Marc Chaikin Market View Major Indexes and Notable Sectors     # Hld:     Bullish     Neutral     Bearish Dow 30 -0.34% 6 18 6 S&P 500 +0.24% 104 308 85 Nasdaq +0.68% 32 49 19 Small Caps -0.62% 393 1075 427 Bonds +1.03% Information Technology +1.86% 27 29 9 — According to the Chaikin Power Bar, Small Cap stocks remain somewhat more Bearish than Large Cap stocks. Major indexes are mixed. *  *  *  * Sector Tracker Sector movement over the last 5 days Information Technology +4.29% Communication +1.02% Discretionary +0.96% Health Care +0.85% Energy +0.67% Industrials +0.25% Materials -0.34% Staples -0.54% Real Estate -0.58% Financial -0.9% Utilities -2.02% *  *  *  * Industry Focus Innovative Technology Services 23 59 17 Over the past 6 months, the Innovative Technology subsector (XITK) has underperformed the S&P 500 by -12.33%. However, its Power Bar ratio, which measures future potential, is Strong, with more Bullish than Bearish stocks. It is currently ranked #9 of 21 subsectors and has moved up 3 slots over the past week. Top Stocks TSEM Tower Semiconductor NVDA NVIDIA Corporation LSPD Lightspeed Commerce *  *  *  * Top Movers Gainers AAPL +7.26% FSLR +5.26% FMC +4.0% VST +3.4% SWKS +2.89% Losers PARA -7.85% LUV -5.56% NEE -5.5% STT -4.33% APTV -4.24% *  *  *  * Earnings Report Reporting Today Rating Before Open After Close AVGO No earnings reporting today. Earnings Surprises ORCL Oracle Corporation Q4 $1.41 Beat by $0.03 CASY Casey's General Stores, Inc. Q4 $2.34 Beat by $0.62 GME GameStop Corp. Q1 $0.22 Missed by $-0.08 *  *  *  * You have received this e-mail as part of your subscription to PowerFeed. If you no longer want to receive e-mails from PowerFeed, click here. You're receiving this e-mail at its028@gmail.com. For questions about your account or to speak with customer service, call +1 (877) 697-6783 (U.S.), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time or e-mail info@chaikinanalytics.com. Please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized investment advice. © 2024 Chaikin Analytics, LLC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Chaikin Analytics, LLC. 201 King Of Prussia Rd., Suite 650, Radnor, PA 19087. www.chaikinanalytics.com. Any brokers mentioned constitute a partial list of available brokers and is for your information only. Chaikin Analytics, LLC, does not recommend or endorse any brokers, dealers, or investment advisors. Chaikin Analytics forbids its writers from having a financial interest in any security they recommend to our subscribers. All employees of Chaikin Analytics, LLC (and affiliated companies) must wait 24 hours after an investment recommendation is published online – or 72 hours after a direct mail publication is sent – before acting on that recommendation. This work is based on SEC filings, current events, interviews, corporate press releases, and what we've learned as financial journalists. It may contain errors, and you shouldn't make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. It's your money and your responsibility.