Which Edition of "Security Analysis" Should I Get?

Hi,

I'm a stock picking noob, and I've heard that "Security Analysis" by Benjamin Graham is a good book to start with, but what edition should I get? There seem to be 3-4 out there each with subtle differences, so which one would WSO recommend?

Secondly, is there a good book for learning how to read balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows from an investment standpoint? I know generally what various things on the BS, IS, SCFs mean, but I have no clue how to predict future earnings, or determine if a company has a "clean balance sheet", so is there a good book that helps illustrate these things?

8 Comments
 

Sounds good, I'll pick that one up.

Any tips for books on reading financials from an investment standpoint? I was hoping I'd learn that from intermediate accounting, but so far its just accounting from an accountant's standpoint and not much more than that.

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 

Fair enough, but isn't knowing one's way around a balance sheet a good skill to have regardless? That's why I was hoping there is a good book for investors that aids in that department.

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 

Libero ad sed quisquam omnis ipsum dicta. Voluptatem assumenda ipsa veniam dolores ipsam sint doloribus. Dicta a esse omnis laudantium sint. Et possimus numquam id nesciunt neque sit maxime exercitationem.

Beatae sequi tenetur dignissimos id nihil consectetur. Quos amet vel necessitatibus numquam enim et. Sapiente voluptas quia at consequatur aperiam aut quia omnis. A reiciendis inventore ut at itaque. Ipsum voluptatem blanditiis fugit inventore qui vel error. Adipisci et sint ut rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”