Schloss achieved a 21.3% CAGR in the stock market from 1956 to 1984.
His bargain-hunting strategy is a must-read for investors.
Let's dive in π§΅π
Schloss ran a capital-light operation
His total office expenses were $11k per year while producing a net income of $19M
Yet "...Walter continues to outperform managers who work in temples filled with paintings, staff and computers"
One of Schloss' best stock picks:
Boston & Providence Railroad - he bought the stock at $60 - $96
Penn Central wanted the real estate and ended up paying $110 for it
Another piece of the RE was sold for $277
Forbes refers to Schloss as a "junk collector"
He doesn't care about talented management teams, growth, or moats.
All Schloss cares about is cheap stocks.
He constantly scanned the market for bargains, like B&P Railroad
He also looked for "working capital stocks"
These stocks were selling for stock prices below their working capital after debt and preferred stock was deducted.
This means you got the physical assets for free - a real bargain.
He was asked why he focuses on book value over earnings:
βI really have nothing against earnings, except that in the first place, earnings have a way of changing. Second, your earnings projections may be right, but peopleβs idea of the multiple has changed."
Schloss shared how he thinks about book value
Take Republic Steel, the stated book value was $65 at the time, however, to replace RS operation, it would at the least take $130 a share.
No one could enter the steel business without a new revolutionary process.
"At such a time these companies and industries get into disrepute and nobody wants them, partly because they need a lot of capital investment and partly because they donβt make much money. Since the market is aimed at earnings, who wants a company that doesnβt earn much?"
"So, if you buy companies that are depressed because people donβt like them for various reasons, and things turn a little in your favor, you get a good deal of leverage."
Schloss talks about Marquette Cement as an example
The business used to sell for $50 per share.
With a book value of $28.
At one point the stock sold for $6 per share.
Schloss' thesis was that if the market turns around slightly, MC could make $1.5 in earnings and stabilize at $15 per share
Assuming that 50% of the EPS could be paid out in dividends, this was a great deal with $0.75 in dividends on a cost basis of $6 = 12.5%
In addition, the price appreciation from $6 to $15 = +150%
These kinds of bargains were what Walter was looking for
Schloss concluded his Forbes interview by saying
"Finding companies like this isn't hard"
He encourages investors to look at companies trading below their book value to find these bargains
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Buffett is the most successful stock investor of our time
Here are 7 lessons that will make you a better investor:
Buffett has 3 main inspirations for his style:
1. Benjamin Graham
Graham taught Buffett to buy stocks at attractive prices
He promoted a rigid process for investing with strict criteria for valuation and quality
He used the metaphor of "Mr Market" to drive his points.
2. Phil Fisher
Fisher taught Buffett to focus his portfolio and think long-term
Fisher understood the value of doing deep research and so-called "scuttlebutt investing" where the investors talk to all kinds of people related to the business that is under analysis.
Nick Sleep is known for having a 3-stock portfolio ππ§΅
He achieved a cumulative return of 921% vs. the MSCI world index of 116,9% over 13 years.
This is how he did it π§΅
= THREAD =
β’Long-term mindset
Preventing the interruption of compounding remains one of the best methods for long-term returns.
Sleep focused on the business' destination, and ignored short-term noise
His mere focus was to pick great long-term winners
β’Focus on the destination
Sleep focused on the company's destination.
To help him do this, he used 3 questions:
- Where will X be in 10-20 years?
- What must management do now to reach that destination?
- What circumstance could prevent X from reaching its destination?
Munger is said to have the best 30-second mind in the world
His deep knowledge on psychological biases and mental models gave him a competitive advantage.
Here are 6 lessons that will make you a more effective thinker:
What is a psychological bias?
Also known as a βcognitive biasβ it can be defined as a pattern of deviation from rational judgment.
In other words, why do we (human beings) sometimes act and think like morons.
Most investors have been caught in one of these scenarios:
I) A stock keeps increasing, all your friends are making money, and you want to get in too! (FOMO)
II) A stock keeps falling in price, the pain gets worse every day, and you sell at the point of maximum pain (only to realize it was the bottom). (Appeal to fear)
III) You think you know more about a certain stock or industry than you do, you agree with all articles and reports that confirm your thesis, and neglect those that oppose your thesis (Confirmation bias).