Sunday, 22 January 2012

Ownership Principle: Investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike.

1. Investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike.

2. Every corporate security may best be viewed as an ownership interest in, or a claim against a specific business enterprise ... and the investor seeking to make profits from his security purchases and sales, is embarking on a business venture which must be run in accordance with accepted business principles.

3. Principles of business

  • know your business -- for the securities investor, this means do not try to make "business profits" out of securities--that is returns in excess of normal interest and dividend income. 
  • do not let anyone else run your business unless you can adequately supervise, and you have unusually strong reason to have confidence in the integrity and ability of the person. 
  • do not enter upon an operation unless a reliable calculation shows that it has a fair chance to profit-- not based on optimism, but on arithmetic
  • have the courage of your knowledge and experience.

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