King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

Master operating margin analysis with our step-by-step stock screening guide. Learn how to calculate EBIT, identify positive operating leverage, and spot high-moat companies. Analysing profit margins is one of the most powerful tools in fundamental equity research. While top-line revenue growth tells you how fast a company is expanding, margins reveal how efficiently it converts that revenue into actual value for shareholders. Why Comparing Margins is Essential Unmasks Pricing Power: Companies with high or expanding margins possess strong economic moats—whether through brand loyalty, proprietary technology, or scale—allowing them to raise prices without losing customers. Exposes Cost Discipline: Comparing margins across multiple reporting periods reveals whether management can control operational overhead and cost of goods sold during inflationary cycles. Levels the Playing Field: Margins are expressed as percentages, allowing you to directly compare a small-cap niche player against...

The Curious Double Standard in Restaurant Etiquette Why is smelling wine at a restaurant considered sophisticated while smelling food may seem rude? Explore wine tasting etiquette, dining manners and the double standards of fine dining. Have you ever noticed that smelling wine in a restaurant is considered a sign of sophistication, while smelling your food before eating it may attract disapproving looks? A wine enthusiast can swirl a glass, hold it close to the nose, inhale deeply and discuss its complex aromas without raising an eyebrow. Yet, if a restaurant guest brings a freshly served dish closer to the nose to appreciate its aroma, the same action may be interpreted as unusual, suspicious or even impolite. Why? Is there a genuine difference between these two behaviours, or are we simply following social conventions that we have never bothered to question? The answer reveals something fascinating about restaurant etiquette, fine dining culture and the unwritten rules that...