📖Philip Fisher

Scuttlebutt Stock Picking

🌳 Advanced★★★★★

Combine quantitative and qualitative research for stock picking.

💬

The best stock picks come from combining quantitative analysis with qualitative research gathered through the scuttlebutt method of industry investigation.

— Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits,1958

🏠 Everyday Analogy

Analyzing a business is like choosing a long-term partner. Temporary excitement matters less than durable character, capability, and consistency.

📖 Core Interpretation

Philip Fisher emphasizes durable business quality over short-term noise. A strong model, real competitive edge, and disciplined capital allocation matter more than quarterly excitement.
💎 Key Insight:Industry investigation reveals what numbers alone cannot.

AI Deep Analysis

Get personalized insights and practical guidance through AI conversation

❓ Why It Matters

Without business-quality filters, investors drift toward stories rather than economics. Durable cash generation is what supports long-term valuation.

🎯 How to Practice

Use a checklist covering moat, management, unit economics, and capital allocation; track long-term cash generation instead of quarter-to-quarter noise.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Buying narratives instead of cash-generating economics
Overreacting to short-term operating noise
Ignoring management quality and capital allocation

📚 Case Studies

1
Early Motorola Investment (1955)
Philip Fisher applied the Fifteen Points to Motorola, emphasizing strong management, R&D strength, and long-term growth prospects, buying when it was still relatively unknown.
✨ Outcome:Long-term compounding success; became one of Fisher’s hallmark examples of growth investing using qualitative analysis.
2
Texas Instruments Evaluation (1960)
Fisher analyzed Texas Instruments using the Fifteen Points, focusing on technological leadership and profit-margin durability rather than short-term earnings fluctuations.
✨ Outcome:Maintained conviction through volatility; investment paid off over time as semiconductor demand and TI’s competitive advantages grew.

See how masters handle real scenarios?

30 real investment dilemmas answered by legendary investors

Explore Scenarios →