USA TODAY Stock Meter helps you evaluate stocks

— -- USA TODAY Stock Meter is an exclusive feature to help you evaluate individual stocks.

Stock Meter is designed to help you decide whether a stock fits your investment goals and risk tolerance. To do that, Stock Meter rates each stock on a scale of 1 (a most conservative investment) to 5 (a most aggressive investment).

Scores are based on up to six key indicators, including the stock's price volatility and the company's past financial performance.

To get a USA TODAY Stock Meter score for any stock, go on line and enter the stock's ticker symbol in a Quick Quote box at money.usatoday.com. A Stock Meter score will appear with the stock price quote.

If you don't know the stock's ticker symbol, enter the company's name in the box, then click on the appropriate symbol when it appears.

For more information about USA TODAY Stock Meter, click on this link, or click on "What is USA TODAY Stock Meter?" directly underneath any Stock Meter score.