Book Review: The Case for Long-Term Value Investing

The Case for Long-Term Value Investing: A Guide to the Data and Strategies That Drive Stock Market Success. 2022. Jim Cullen. Harriman House.

The brilliant yellow dustjacket of Jim Cullen’s The Case for Lengthy-Time period Worth Investing suggests both warning or sunshine. On the cautious aspect, traders acknowledge that market-exposed belongings misplaced worth in 2022 and query whether or not they must liquidate and run for the hills or comply with a self-discipline that can fulfill funding targets over the lengthy haul. On the sunny aspect, Cullen proposes a self-discipline that ought to produce passable risk- and inflation-adjusted returns over a five-year interval, if not for much longer.

Cullen is a uncommon writer amongst modern lively asset managers, with a profession of 60 years in funding administration. His lifetime gives a scale of expertise that few have, and he generously shares it right here, supported by evaluation, backtesting, and memorable tales of investments gone effectively or awry. The straightforward type of presenting the worth technique and apply it in any kind of market will convert many who doubt its success into believers.

What’s long-term worth investing? It’s clear that Cullen defines “long run” as at the very least 5 years. Ignoring that perspective highlights quite a few short-term melt-up markets that go away worth shares within the mud. Inspecting longer durations reveals a far completely different image. Cullen presents considerable information protecting very lengthy stretches of time, typically concluding in 2020. Sticking to long-term funding objectives quite than chasing momentum for worry of lacking out results in larger efficiency than progress investing gives. The rolling five-year foundation that Cullen emphasizes smooths efficiency and sheds mild on the expansion/worth debate. He makes a compelling case for a protracted and steep draw back for progress shares once they in the end appropriate.

The writer’s examination of the bottom P/Es (the underside 20%) and the very best dividend yields (the highest 20%) additionally considers progress of earnings and dividends over time, encouraging concentrate on the inventory quite than the inventory market. Emphasis on the bottom price-to-book ratios additional boosts the case he makes for worth. Many people query the valuations of belongings mirrored in ebook worth, with an excessive instance being financial institution and monetary belongings earlier than and through the monetary disaster of 2008–2009. Outdoors of conventional industries, akin to airways, metals, and vitality, and acknowledging the dominance of the tech period, with its excessive or non-meaningful price-to-book ratios, low price-to-book will be an efficient screening device. The bottom price-to-book ratios of the S&P 500 Index carried out fairly properly alongside the bottom P/Es and the very best dividend yielders, besides in particular person years throughout bubbles or melt-ups. The graphic proof is introduced convincingly in a chart depicting “The Three Disciplines” and the way they carried out in every year from 1968 to 2020.

As astute as Cullen is in convincing us of the realities of worth investing, he additionally gives considerate evaluation of inflection factors in markets primarily based on such vital issues as authorities, company, and particular person debt ranges; the extent and path of rates of interest; and shopper confidence. In reviewing the present information, readers might come away assured that the present bear market may not show lengthy lasting, particularly for individuals who concentrate on valuations, earnings, and dividend progress and keep the course.

Cullen considers market timing the silent killer of funding efficiency, particularly within the case of “strategic” shifts to money and makes an attempt to enhance returns. The shifts to money that he addresses are people who final for a month or extra. Just some strikes out of the market may end up in substantial funding underperformance, particularly in scary occasions of utmost illiquidity and deep recession.

Two different factors require point out. Worth investing is relevant to all capitalizations and geographic areas, together with rising markets. Small-cap worth has accomplished remarkably effectively over the long run owing to the frequency of takeovers. Coated name writing can usefully come into play, contemplating the sharp drop in bond yields occasioned by a 30-year bond bull market, at the same time as rates of interest creep up. Cullen shares a coated name writing technique for tax-exempt funding accounts that enhances portfolio efficiency, versus investing in chosen bonds solely for earnings.

A piece titled “Getting Began — New Buyers” occupies just some pages earlier than the ebook’s ultimate notice. I discovered it to be vastly entertaining and academic. The writer highlights saving, investing, and the great thing about compound curiosity. Most readers will discover it startling that he recommends annual funding contributions till age 80! My suggestion to the brand new investor could be to goal for this lengthy contribution interval but when that isn’t potential, to try at the very least to cut back bills by the quantity one can not proceed to contribute to investments.

After studying his well-presented case for long-term worth investing, testing for extra durations past these revealed, and reviewing current financial information with a vital eye as Cullen does, I agree with him that it is a ebook for all traders. That is so regardless that analytically inclined traders will doubtless transcend his acknowledged standards for safety choice — that’s, the bottom P/Es and price-to-books coupled with the very best dividend yields.

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All posts are the opinion of the writer. As such, they shouldn’t be construed as funding recommendation, nor do the opinions expressed essentially replicate the views of CFA Institute or the writer’s employer.

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