how do I pick a stock

there are 2 ways. one is go for growth and disruptive companies. for this, you must understand the company and the industry it is disrupting. usually this companies will lose money first, so no need to care so much about financial metrics coz it will have high future potential.

another way is go for high dividend value stock. for this, look at the p/e ratio, cash flow, revenue, dividend yield and whether the company is stable. usually choose the leaders of its industry. also make sure it is growing, usually will be slow growth, but still must grow. if the company is shrinking in profit, it might be a value trap