It's about the "magic of retained earnings" -- how businesses can create tremendous value by retaining part of their earnings and compounding it over time.
It's the amount of *cash* an owner can take out of a business each year -- IF the owner just wants to *maintain*, and NOT *grow*, the business's earnings.
Highlight #5
Many investors judge companies on "key performance metrics" -- ROE, ROIC, Inventory Turnover, etc.
But it's not enough to just *calculate* these metrics every quarter/year.
We have to *understand* the business well enough to correctly *interpret* these metrics.
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In this thread, I'll walk you through the "magic of retained earnings".
This is the basic theory behind why stocks grow exponentially over long periods of time.
As investors, we'd do well to understand this theory -- and the assumptions it's based on.
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Warren Buffett's 2019 letter to Berkshire shareholders has a section titled "The Power of Retained Earnings".
In this section, Buffett describes how businesses can deliver enormous benefits to their owners by *retaining* and *compounding* a portion of their earnings:
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Let's break down this key insight from Buffett's letter.
Imagine we have a business that earns $100M per year.
Let's say this $100M neither grows nor shrinks over time.
Examples of compounding: (1) A savings account that accrues interest, (2) a business that retains earnings and re-invests them to earn steady returns.
NOT an example of compounding: hourly wages.
Highlight #2
Buffett's early start is a big part of his > $100B net worth. He bought his first stock when he was just 11.
Thankfully, most of us don't need $100B to be happy in life. If our goal is simply to achieve Financial Independence, we can afford to start a little later.
In this thread, I'll help you understand the Volatility Tax.
Whether you're a fundamentals-driven, buy-and-hold investor or an esoteric derivatives trader, this thread will help you hone your craft -- by sharpening your probabilistic reasoning skills.
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Imagine we have 2 stocks: A and B.
A is the ultimate steady compounder. Each year, the stock rises 15% -- like clockwork.
B is much more volatile. Some years, it RISES 50%. Other years, it FALLS 20%. The odds are 50/50 each year -- like a series of independent coin flips.
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Notice that, in any particular year, the *average* (or *expected*) return of B is the SAME as that of A.
That's because, in any year, the *average* of the 2 possible 50/50 outcomes for B (+50% and -20%) is (50 - 20)/2 = +15% -- the SAME as A's steady return.
To that end, here are 22 key concepts to help you appreciate and achieve Financial Independence.
Concept #1.
What is Financial Independence?
It's a state of *self-sufficiency*. It's when you have enough money, and enough income-producing assets, that you and your family can live comfortably for the rest of your lives -- WITHOUT needing a job.
Concept #2.
Financial Independence is not really about spending MONEY how we like -- although, to an extent, that becomes possible.
It's about being FREE to spend our TIME how we like.