SoftBank is an enigma for me. On one hand, it has all the traits of an excellent owner-founder run business—the kind that I love to invest in. On the other hand, some of its management’s recent moves have spectacularly failed, making me think twice before investing again. As I … [Read more...] about SoftBank – a second look
BusinessLeaders
Insiders who bought stocks in March 2020
In a March 2020 blog post when we were in the midst of the stock market crash, I highlighted four businesses where insiders had bought stocks. The table from that post is reproduced below. These insider purchases were made with their own monies in open market. In other … [Read more...] about Insiders who bought stocks in March 2020
Leadership changes in founder led businesses
It’s no surprise to anyone who go through my posts that I admire founder led businesses. I also love investing in them. But perhaps not all of them. Only those that have proven to have durable business models and where founders have large stakes in their own businesses. I have … [Read more...] about Leadership changes in founder led businesses
More founder run businesses
Bessemer Venture Partners is a well-known venture capital firm—also one of the nation’s oldest in VC business. As the name implies, it invests in young startups, mostly technology related businesses. Over the years, it had invested in some promising businesses that grew to be … [Read more...] about More founder run businesses
Seeking wisdom in trying times
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
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