Right now, it's absolutely the best time to be thinking about the stock market! It's earnings season -- the one time every quarter when we get to see the latest numbers from companies. Equally important, we get to learn about corporate forecasts for the future.

One of the best things you can do to advance your stock market knowledge is to peruse the earnings statements and financial forecasts of companies that you wouldn't ordinarily consider for your portfolio.

For example, a lot of people just aren't interested in investing in the semiconductor industry. Very often, companies in this industry are highly technical in nature, not to mention the significant volatility in the success of the sector.

By taking the time, however, to review the latest financial and forecast news from semiconductor manufacturers, you can learn a great deal about the health of the consumer electronics industry, as well as the economic health of entire countries -- it's great information for any investor!

All your analysis serves to help you expand your own market view and make reasoned investment decisions accordingly. So, even if you aren't interested in the packaging industry or any other sector for that matter, its financial health can be a catalyst for strength or weakness in other industries. In the end, the economy is a complex system of interrelationships, and the stock market naturally speculates on economic changes within many industries. By reading company financials, you'll better understand what makes a profitable company and, in turn, a profitable economy, and you'll be able to profit along with them.

It is difficult to predict genuine economic success, so it makes sense to look where economic success is currently taking place and seek out related investments that are not yet on Wall Street's radar screen.

This is a great strategy to help you make big capital gains in the stock market.