Seth Klarman, a renowned value investor, encapsulates the essence of value investing with his statement, "Value investing is at its core the marriage of a contrarian streak and a calculator." This phrase highlights two fundamental aspects of value investing:
- Contrarian Streak: This refers to the willingness to go against the prevailing market trends or popular opinion. Value investors often seek opportunities where others see problems, buying stocks out of favor, underappreciated, or undervalued by the broader market. This contrarian mindset is crucial because it allows investors to find bargains others might overlook or avoid.
- Calculator: This symbolizes the analytical and quantitative aspects of value investing. It involves rigorous financial analysis, including examining a company's financial statements, assessing its intrinsic value, and calculating whether its current market price represents a good deal. A "calculator" implies a disciplined and systematic approach to investment decisions based on data and careful analysis rather than speculation or market sentiment.
In summary, Klarman's quote emphasizes that successful value investing requires a willingness to think independently and contrarianly and the ability to back up those decisions with solid financial analysis.