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 Leave it to NetEase.com (Nasdaq: NTES) to show the smaller online gaming companies how it's done.

The Chinese Web-based gaming pioneer came through with another monster quarter last night. Net revenue soared 61% to $209.3 million, with net income climbing 49% to $0.67 per ADS. Analysts were only banking on a profit of $0.63 for each depositary share with a top line of $202.7 million.

Unless you've Rip Van Winkled the past two weeks away in a cave somewhere, you probably know shares of Akamai Technologies (Nasdaq: AKAM) are down roughly 8% so far this month.



 Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.

 Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past net earnings as a measure of a company's economic output. That's because earnings are very often less trustworthy than cash flow, since earnings are more open to manipulation based on dubious judgment calls.

 Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, mobile data service specialist Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.

 Margins matter. The more Liquidity Services (Nasdaq: LQDT) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market.  That's why I check on my holdings' margins at least once a quarter. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, comparisons to sector peers and competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Liquidity Services's competitive position could be.

 There's no foolproof way to know the future for Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result. Rest assured: Even if you're not monitoring these metrics, short-sellers are.