In my last post, I wrote that I have been buying stocks. Well, since then I continued buying stocks as the market dropped even further. At the time, I reported I had invested 60% of my dry powder cash. Today, I am 70% deployed. As the stock market fell 35% below its peak, I … [Read more...] about Seeking wisdom in trying times
BusinessLeaders
I like Interactive Brokers
Today’s post is about a business I own since 2015 but I hadn’t bought any new shares in last three years. It’s a business that I am very familiar with. I am not only a shareholder but also a long-time customer. I use its tools and services extensively in my investing work. I … [Read more...] about I like Interactive Brokers
Investing in startups through SoftBank
I prefer investing in established well-run businesses that have defensible business models. Even though some of them are technology companies, I invest in them not because they are considered tech but because they have dug some level of economic moat around their businesses. You … [Read more...] about Investing in startups through SoftBank
An opportunity to invest in real assets
One of my all-time favorite authors on investing is Howard Marks. He is a practitioner (not an academic) but also has a way with words. It’s not just me—Marks’ memos are widely read. His first book, The Most Important Thing, was a best-seller. His memos—which he regularly … [Read more...] about An opportunity to invest in real assets
Revisiting my Blackstone investment
I have written several times in last two years about my investment in Blackstone (BX). Blackstone is the largest alternative investment asset manager in the world. I have been gradually building up my stake in it for two years. Its shares have mostly stayed flat since -- … [Read more...] about Revisiting my Blackstone investment
Invest in high-quality businesses
High quality businesses keep on giving—year in and year out. This is one key lesson I learned in my early investing years. Take the case of Wal-Mart (WMT) for instance. Ten years after its IPO in 1970, Wal-Mart had presence in just about 15% of the country. The stock had already … [Read more...] about Invest in high-quality businesses
Grading CEOs as capital allocators
If there were just two questions to ask about a CEO, ask these: Does he run the business well? Is she good in utilizing shareholders’ capital? The first question requires no explanation—this is obviously any CEO’s number one task. The second question is a bit more complex. We … [Read more...] about Grading CEOs as capital allocators
My investments with founder CEOs
The median tenure of public company CEOs is about five years [1]. They come and go. Many of them are paid handsomely to run a company—in either cash or stocks that vest in 3 to 4 years. They’d own some shares while they work for the company and then cash out as they leave. They … [Read more...] about My investments with founder CEOs
CEOs who take pay cuts
Most CEOs make token statements about taking care of shareholders. Some mean it, others don’t. We investors don’t have a good way to judge them. We are not privy to discussions in boardrooms or corner offices. We can’t read their minds either. We don’t get to observe many … [Read more...] about CEOs who take pay cuts
Are moats really lame?
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, said last month that economic moats are lame: “If your only defense against invading armies is a moat, you will not last long. What matters is the pace of innovation. That is the fundamental determinant of competitiveness.” A few days later, I was in … [Read more...] about Are moats really lame?