If you bought a stock for its growth characteristics and the rate of growth is showing signs of slowing, that would be a cause for concern. (This would particularly be the case if it looks like internal factors had an adverse affect.) Conversely, if you bought a stock because the valuation was cheap, a merely decent (as opposed to a great) report might be acceptable.

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Their creativity and novelty seeking characteristics lead them into deals that improve the growth prospects of their firms.

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Additionally, stocks are priced so that the expected return of any stock is identical to all others of its size and growth characteristics.

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But growth also brought inflation, which crippled Brazil until the mid-1990s and still accounts for some odd characteristics, such as the country's painfully high interest rates and its disinclination to save.

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