📖Jim Simons

Focus on Intrinsic Value

🌿 Intermediate★★★★★

Compare price to intrinsic value, not to past prices.

💬

Always estimate the intrinsic value of a business before investing. Compare price to value, not price to past price. The gap between price and value is where profits are made.

— The Man Who Solved the Market,2019

🏠 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 Focus on Intrinsic Value, Jim Simons 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-value gap is the source of returns.

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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
Post-Crisis Infrastructure Rebound (2012)
Invested in U.S. midstream energy and toll roads as governments sought private capital for upgrades after the 2008 crisis
✨ Outcome:Gradual multiple expansion and steady dividends produced attractive risk-adjusted returns over the following five years
2
Airports and Urbanization (2016)
Backed European and Asian airport operators benefiting from low-cost carriers and emerging market travel demand
✨ Outcome:Passenger growth and regulatory clarity supported rising cash flows, leading to both dividend growth and capital appreciation

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