Max Koh Profile picture
Oct 19, 2021 11 tweets 4 min read Read on X
The #1 secret to improve your investing returns?

Research your companies well.

Here's 5 simple tools I use to research companies in depth:

(with screenshots of how I personally use each one)
Tool 1: Pocket

I use this to highlight earnings transcripts and articles on my phone.

Allows me to research companies even when I'm on the go.

I then extract these highlights afterwards and summarize them.

Here's an example of an interview with Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman.
Tool 2: Otter

I use Otter to transcribe CEO interviews and videos.

Why not just listen to them?

Because I read faster than I listen. So it saves me time.

Here's my trick: I transcribe these videos beforehand.

Then I read the transcripts when I'm on the public commute to work
Tool 3: Google docs

I type all my company analysis in a classic google doc.

I like it because I can create Headings. Which I can quickly jump to in a second.

This is useful as my document gets longer.

Because I don't need to waste time scrolling to find what I need.
Tool 4: Google Drive

I classify all my google docs according to their names in a drive.

I have one folder for all my write-ups.

This helps me access them anytime.

Example of my writeups folder :
4b. I also have another folder for my financial models.

I update these quarterly numbers after each earnings call.

Helps me stay up to date with their latest metrics and valuations.

By now you probably can tell...

I love organization and structure :)
5. @RoamResearch

I am going to get laughed at.

Because I am using less than 1% of Roam's full functions.

I use it mainly so I can see the notes side by side when I write.

So I have my highlights (extracted from pocket) on one side.

And my actual writing on the other.
5b. Why do I do this?

So I can see everything in one screen.

Yes, I know I can do this with a bigger monitor or 2 screens.

But I'm a minimalist.

I hate clutter and hardware. I love working on my laptop.

So I'd much rather get Roam as I can use this function anywhere.
* A request from me:

Please note I will NOT entertain questions about the individual stocks shown above.

Firstly, I don't buy everything I research.

Most importantly...

I have a rule where I don't talk about my positions in public.

To protect myself from commitment bias.
That's my tech stack.

You don't have to buy expensive software that costs thousands.

I've been using these 5 simple tools for some time now.

They've made me a better researcher.

And also improved my portfolio returns.

1. Pocket
2. Otter
3. Google docs
4. Drive
5. Roam
If you found this useful, follow me here at @heymaxkoh

I tweet about how I attained financial freedom before age 30...

By investing in great businesses.

Also check out these top 20 lessons from Fintwit that helped me multiply my 6 figure portfolio:

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More from @heyamaxkoh

Jan 20, 2023
This is value investor, Allan Mecham.

He dropped out of college at age 22 to start his fund, Arlington Value.

From 2008-2016, they did a CAGR of 30% over 8.5 years!

And in his fund letters, he shared his best frameworks for investing in companies.

Here's a breakdown of each:
1. Adopt a mindset for longevity

He focuses on variables that affect a business' durability.

Stuff like valuation doesn't matter if the business quality is misjudged.

Since a company's value is determined by its future cash flows...

Hence evaluating its future is key
2. Stay within your circle of competence

Allan is aware that his CoC is tiny!

Thus, he rarely buys companies that he:

• Hasn't researched
• Hasn't followed for at least a few years.

Because the best way to study a business is to observe its execution overtime.
Read 12 tweets
Jan 17, 2023
One of the great investors of our time: Li Lu

During his talks at CBS and Peking Uni, he’s shared many of his thoughts on:

- Researching a stock
- Thinking like an owner
- Behaviours of a good investor

Here’s a breakdown of 15 of his investing mental models:
1. Think Like a Business Owner

Your fortunes go up and down with the nature of the business.

You don’t think of yourself as a paper shuffler.

But instead, as a real owner.

And because you only own a small piece, you need a margin of safety before buying in.
2. You Are a Researcher More Than an Investor

Most of your time is spent reading.

You operate more like a field detective and journalist.

This helps you understand a business well so you can own it with conviction.
Read 21 tweets
Jan 11, 2023
How to read an Annual Report in 1 hour.

A step by step guide for busy people:

(also for investing newbies)
1. For me, reading a 10k is purely to understand one thing:

A company's business model.

That's it.

This includes:

- what products they sell
- how they make $$
- basic unit economics

Fine tune your antenna to look for that.
2. Limit your time.

I find that 45-60 mins is a typical duration before I start feeling sleepy.

With this in mind, it creates urgency for me to move fast before steam runs out.

I become more selective of what I read in the 10K.

Which helps me remember the best ideas I need.
Read 13 tweets
Jan 6, 2023
17 life-changing lessons from "Fooled by Randomness" by Nassim Taleb that gave me a mindf**k.

I hope it does the same for you too:
1. Hard work and work ethic is BS

Those who merely work hard generally lose their focus and intellectual energy.

Work ethics draw people to focus on noise rather than the signal.
2. Lucky fools do not think they are lucky fools.

Be careful who you listen to or take advice from.
Read 20 tweets
Nov 2, 2022
Secrets on how to find 10-100 baggers

My top 8 tweets:
1. Turning $3.6k into $1M

Someone else shared this, but their account went private.

I don't take any credit for this.

But it's a good lesson.

This guy from Reddit bought 300 shares of $AMZN at $12.50 in 2001. It has now become a 280 bagger.

Read his thought process here:
2. Real life 100 baggers by @mrjivraj

I love this.

What makes it awesome is seeing retail investors like you and me buy shares of $AAPL and $MSFT in the early days.

Is there luck? Yes.

But a good reminder that the real $$ is made in the holding.

Read 13 tweets
Oct 17, 2022
90% of business acquisitions fail.

But there are exceptions:

Mark Leonard, Founder of Constellation Software $CSU, is one of them.

He's acquired over 500 companies in the last 2 decades...

Turning $25 Million into $39 Billion.

Here's his "Growth by Acquisition" playbook: Image
Okay I'm a jerk.

This is the real photo of Mark Leonard.

Now let's get to the serious stuff...

5 lessons from Mark's "Growth by Acquisition" Playbook:

1. Focus on niche players
2. Focus on sticky softwares
3. Buy founder led companies
4. Decentralization
5. Keep teams small Image
To put things in context:

Every $1 you invested in Constellation Software in 2006...

Would have turned into $100 in 2022.

Over the last 16 years, its stock has compounded at over 30% a year.

What's the secret? Image
Read 25 tweets

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