The advice ‘buy good businesses’ cost Warren Buffett $11 billion. Why that advice is not enough on its own
Intelligent Investing
Synopsis
The price of a share is not a fact. It is a forecast, and it is yours. Buffett pulls apart the one forecast he got badly wrong, then turns to the people who live off forecasts nobody can test. The promoters who pay for firms with their own inflated paper. The bosses whose repurchases reveal more about a share price than about worth. The managers who are paid whether the year went well or badly. And then he lists all that investing truly demands. Four items, and skill is not among them.
Buy good businesses. It is the most repeated piece of advice in investing, and the most comforting, because it suggests that if you do your homework on the company you cannot really go wrong. Find the leader in its field. Check the management. Hold it for years.Warren Buffett did exactly that. He bought the best company in its industry. He kept its chief executive in charge, a man he describes as pouring the same energy into the work after the
- FONT SIZE
AbcSmall
AbcMedium
AbcLarge
Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.
Worry not. You’re just a step away.
What’s Included with
ETPrime Membership
1Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas
Alpha Trade
Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts.
Investment Ideas
Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends.
Stock Reports Plus
All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals.
BigBull Portfolio
Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks.
Stock Analyzer
Check the score based on the company’s fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks.
Market Mood
Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions.
Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily
Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts.
2Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper
ePaper – Print View
Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
ePaper – Digital View
Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday.
Wealth Edition
Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide.
3Exclusive Insights That Matter
4Times Of India Subscription (1 Year)
TOI ePaper
Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
Deep Explainers
Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions.
Health+ Stories
Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being.
Personal Finance+ Stories
Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance.
5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands
Docubay Subscription
Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day.