📖Jesse Livermore

Value Discipline

🌿 Intermediate★★★★★

Discipline in valuation determines investment success.

💬

Never overpay for a security, no matter how exciting the story. The price you pay determines your return. Discipline in valuation is the foundation of investment success.

— Reminiscences of a Stock Operator,1923

🏠 Everyday Analogy

Valuation is like buying a house: the asking price reflects mood, but true value comes from structure, location, and long-term utility. Good assets still need sensible prices.

📖 Core Interpretation

In Value Discipline, Jesse Livermore focuses on the gap between price and value. Returns come from paying less than what a business is worth, not from guessing short-term market moves.
💎 Key Insight:The price paid is the most important variable.

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❓ Why It Matters

Ignoring valuation turns even good companies into poor investments. Overpaying compresses future returns and leaves little margin when assumptions are wrong.

🎯 How to Practice

Estimate intrinsic value with conservative assumptions, set clear buy ranges, and act only when price offers a meaningful discount with acceptable downside.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Confusing a low price with true cheapness
Using one metric without business context
Overly optimistic assumptions that erase margin of safety

📚 Case Studies

1
1929 Market Crash Short (1929)
He built a large short position in leading stocks, patiently ignoring early rallies and public optimism before the October collapse.
✨ Outcome:Profited millions during the crash, showing that patience in a correctly timed position can outperform frequent trading and small gains.
2
Panic of 1907 Cornering Attempt (1907)
Livermore initially shorted the market during the Panic, then reversed to go long when J.P. Morgan stabilized banks, capturing the violent rebound.
✨ Outcome:Closed positions with millions in profit, cementing his reputation as a master of market turns.

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