AI Analyst for Pennies: 10 Prompts for Claude That Replace Expensive Consultants
The fundamental analysis market is undergoing a tectonic shift. While traditional investment houses charge thousands of dollars for their reports, anyone can obtain top-tier consulting-level analytics using just ten well-crafted queries to Claude. This is not about superficial screening, but a full-fledged company research—from business model to risk assessment and building a DCF model.
From Overview to Valuation: The First Five Prompts
The first prompt turns Claude into a senior analyst capable of preparing a research report on a ticker that is understandable even for a beginner. It covers the business model, financial results, industry trends, competitors, and bull/base/bear scenarios. A critical requirement is reliance on fresh public sources with a clear separation of facts and assumptions.
The second prompt breaks down the latest earnings call: five key takeaways, changes in revenue and margins, management tone, as well as pleasant and unpleasant surprises. The output is a table of key metrics with an explanation of why each one is important.
The third prompt assigns Claude the role of a skeptical analyst looking for red flags: declining margins, cash flow issues, rising debt, insider activity. Each issue is assigned a severity rating, and a total risk score from 1 to 10 is given at the end.
The fourth and fifth prompts focus on competitive advantages and valuation. The first assesses the company's "moat"—brand, network effects, intellectual property—and compares it with competitors. The second compares multiples (P/E, EV/EBITDA) and determines whether the company is overvalued or undervalued.
The Second Five: From DCF to a Beginner's Checklist
The sixth prompt helps build realistic assumptions for a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. It generates bear, base, and bull scenarios for revenue, margins, taxes, and discount rate—with a detailed explanation of the logic behind each parameter.
The seventh prompt creates a catalyst calendar for 3, 6, and 12 months: reports, product launches, regulatory decisions, lawsuits, macro events. For each event, timelines, impact, upside and downside risks are indicated.
The eighth prompt evaluates the management team: CEO track record, CFO reliability, forecast accuracy, transparency, capital allocation, and compensation. The ninth simulates an investment committee debate: Claude creates a bull analyst and a bear analyst, while a neutral judge explains whose position is stronger.
The tenth prompt turns Claude into a patient teacher who explains the company in simple terms: what it does, how it makes money, what could go right and wrong. At the end, a beginner's checklist is formed.
My expert opinion: This collection is a powerful tool for democratizing analytics, but it's important to remember: AI does not replace critical thinking. Final data verification and responsibility for investment decisions always remain with the human. Use these prompts as a starting point, not as a ready-made trading signal.