In order to help me determine the value of a purchase I use something I call the Total Return Yield (TRY). It simply tells me what I am getting in return from the company for my purchase price. For me, it is a gauge of value, the higher the rate, the more I am getting for each dollar I invest. I do not know if this is used under another name by anyone else but it is working for me.

Currently, the common measurement of this metric is what is called the Earnings Yield (EY).