John Templeton Investment Analysis Prompt
A complete global contrarian framework based on John Templeton's philosophy. Covering global opportunity search, maximum pessimism investing, cross-market value comparison, and patient long-term holding.
Full Prompt Content
Classic Investment Rules
Deep dive into the timeless investment principles that have guided generations of successful investors.
Sell Discipline
The time to sell is before the crash, not after. Sell when optimism is at its peak and better opportunities exist elsewhere.
→Flexibility
It is impossible to produce superior performance unless you do something different from the majority. Be flexible in your approach.
→Research-Based Investing
Never buy a stock without thorough research. Know what you own and why you own it.
→Patience and Perseverance
The only investors who shouldn't diversify are those who are right 100% of the time. For the rest of us, patience and diversification are key.
→Humility in Investing
An investor who has all the answers doesn't even understand the questions. Humility is essential for long-term success.
→Common Misconceptions
What are common misunderstandings about Templeton?
❌ **Myth 1**: "Any decline is an opportunity"
- **Reality**: Templeton only bought **quality assets** during **extreme pessimism**, not all falling stocks. He distinguished between "value traps" and "truly undervalued."
❌ **Myth 2**: "Bottom-fishing guarantees profit"
- **Reality**: Requires **global perspective** and **long-term holding** (3-5 years). After bottom-fishing, prices may continue falling 20-30%, requiring strong psychological endurance.
❌ **Myth 3**: "Just buy cheap"
- **Reality**: Must be **wrongly punished** **quality companies**, not fundamentally poor junk stocks. Templeton conducted deep fundamental research.
❌ **Myth 4**: "Can time the market perfectly"
- **Reality**: Templeton used **batch buying**, acknowledging inability to perfectly time the bottom, only seeking to buy in the "pessimistic zone."
- **Reality**: Templeton only bought **quality assets** during **extreme pessimism**, not all falling stocks. He distinguished between "value traps" and "truly undervalued."
❌ **Myth 2**: "Bottom-fishing guarantees profit"
- **Reality**: Requires **global perspective** and **long-term holding** (3-5 years). After bottom-fishing, prices may continue falling 20-30%, requiring strong psychological endurance.
❌ **Myth 3**: "Just buy cheap"
- **Reality**: Must be **wrongly punished** **quality companies**, not fundamentally poor junk stocks. Templeton conducted deep fundamental research.
❌ **Myth 4**: "Can time the market perfectly"
- **Reality**: Templeton used **batch buying**, acknowledging inability to perfectly time the bottom, only seeking to buy in the "pessimistic zone."
Usage Scenarios
When should you use Templeton's method?
✅ **Best For**:
1. **Financial Crises** (2008 subprime crisis, 2020 COVID crash)
2. **Geopolitical Panic** (wars, coups, sanctions causing market crashes)
3. **Country-Specific Crashes** (1997 Asian financial crisis, 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict causing European market crashes)
4. **Sector Panic** (entire industry sold off but fundamentals unchanged)
❌ **Not For**:
1. **Bull Market Chasing** (when market sentiment is optimistic)
2. **Short-Term Trading** (day trading, swing trading)
3. Investors **Lacking Global Perspective** (only focus on domestic market)
4. **Insufficient Liquidity** (may be forced to sell at bottom)
1. **Financial Crises** (2008 subprime crisis, 2020 COVID crash)
2. **Geopolitical Panic** (wars, coups, sanctions causing market crashes)
3. **Country-Specific Crashes** (1997 Asian financial crisis, 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict causing European market crashes)
4. **Sector Panic** (entire industry sold off but fundamentals unchanged)
❌ **Not For**:
1. **Bull Market Chasing** (when market sentiment is optimistic)
2. **Short-Term Trading** (day trading, swing trading)
3. Investors **Lacking Global Perspective** (only focus on domestic market)
4. **Insufficient Liquidity** (may be forced to sell at bottom)
Comparison & Selection
How does Templeton differ from Buffett?
**Core Differences**:
1. **Investment Focus**: Buffett buys "**good companies**" (excellent businesses), Templeton buys "**good prices**" (undervalued assets)
2. **Geographic Scope**: Buffett holds US stocks long-term, Templeton **allocates globally** (invested heavily in Japan, Korea)
3. **Valuation Focus**: Buffett values **company quality** (moat, management), Templeton focuses more on **market sentiment** and valuation levels
4. **Holding Period**: Buffett "holds forever," Templeton sells after valuation recovery
**Similarities**: Both emphasize long-term investing, value investing, contrarian thinking.
1. **Investment Focus**: Buffett buys "**good companies**" (excellent businesses), Templeton buys "**good prices**" (undervalued assets)
2. **Geographic Scope**: Buffett holds US stocks long-term, Templeton **allocates globally** (invested heavily in Japan, Korea)
3. **Valuation Focus**: Buffett values **company quality** (moat, management), Templeton focuses more on **market sentiment** and valuation levels
4. **Holding Period**: Buffett "holds forever," Templeton sells after valuation recovery
**Similarities**: Both emphasize long-term investing, value investing, contrarian thinking.
Practical Application
Can ordinary investors apply Templeton's method?
✅ Yes, but requires: 1) **Strong psychology** (courage to buy during panic, endure paper losses) 2) **Global perspective** (monitor markets in multiple countries, not just home country) 3) **Long-term patience** (hold 3-5+ years, wait for market recovery) 4) **Adequate liquidity** (ensure not forced to sell at bottom).
**Suggestion**: Ordinary investors can buy index funds in batches when markets fall 30%+ (e.g., S&P 500 ETF, MSCI World Index), rather than trying to time individual stocks. Set up automatic investment plans, increase buying when VIX >40.
**Suggestion**: Ordinary investors can buy index funds in batches when markets fall 30%+ (e.g., S&P 500 ETF, MSCI World Index), rather than trying to time individual stocks. Set up automatic investment plans, increase buying when VIX >40.
Theory Deep Dive
What is the "Maximum Pessimism Principle"?
This is Templeton's core investment theory: market prices are severely undervalued during extreme pessimism, offering maximum returns when buying. Key indicators include: 1) Extremely negative market sentiment 2) Valuations at historical lows 3) Quality companies wrongly punished. Classic example: Templeton bought all stocks under $1 when WWII broke out in 1939, and all became profitable. He believed "bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria."
Basic Usage
What is Templeton's investment philosophy?
John Templeton was a pioneer in contrarian and global investing. His core philosophy is the "Maximum Pessimism Principle": buy quality assets when others are most pessimistic and markets are panicking. Templeton believed the best time to buy is at "the point of maximum pessimism," and the greatest opportunities emerge during times of greatest fear. He emphasized a global perspective, not limiting himself to a single market, seeking undervalued opportunities worldwide.
Effectiveness & Accuracy
Is Templeton's global contrarian investing still effective today?
Core principles still effective, more global opportunities:
✅ **Why still effective**:
- Human nature unchanged: panic causes over-selling, euphoria causes over-buying
- Information asymmetry still exists globally
- Emerging market development provides more contrarian opportunities
📊 **Recent examples**:
- 2022 extreme pessimism on China, 2023 rebound
- Pandemic-era airline and travel stocks bounced sharply after panic selling
⚠️ **Current challenges**:
- ETFs and passive investing changed market structure
- Information spreads faster, arbitrage windows shorter
- Geopolitical risks increase uncertainty in global investing
💡 **Key**: Templeton method's core isn't "buy cheap" but "stay rational during panic"
✅ **Why still effective**:
- Human nature unchanged: panic causes over-selling, euphoria causes over-buying
- Information asymmetry still exists globally
- Emerging market development provides more contrarian opportunities
📊 **Recent examples**:
- 2022 extreme pessimism on China, 2023 rebound
- Pandemic-era airline and travel stocks bounced sharply after panic selling
⚠️ **Current challenges**:
- ETFs and passive investing changed market structure
- Information spreads faster, arbitrage windows shorter
- Geopolitical risks increase uncertainty in global investing
💡 **Key**: Templeton method's core isn't "buy cheap" but "stay rational during panic"
Interpretation & Understanding
What is John Templeton's global investment philosophy?
Templeton was a pioneer of global investing:
**Core philosophy**:
- "Buy at the point of maximum pessimism"
- Search globally for undervalued markets and stocks
- Value investing + Global perspective = Templeton method
**Classic cases**:
1. 1939: Bought 104 stocks below when WWII started (multiplied in years)
2. 1960s: Invested heavily in Japan (before economic boom)
3. 1980s: Invested in Korea and other Asian emerging markets
**Investment discipline**:
- Always search for the cheapest stocks globally
- Not limited by geographic bias
- Patient holding for 5+ years
**Core philosophy**:
- "Buy at the point of maximum pessimism"
- Search globally for undervalued markets and stocks
- Value investing + Global perspective = Templeton method
**Classic cases**:
1. 1939: Bought 104 stocks below when WWII started (multiplied in years)
2. 1960s: Invested heavily in Japan (before economic boom)
3. 1980s: Invested in Korea and other Asian emerging markets
**Investment discipline**:
- Always search for the cheapest stocks globally
- Not limited by geographic bias
- Patient holding for 5+ years
How to judge Templeton's "point of maximum pessimism"?
Templeton's method for identifying maximum pessimism:
**Signal characteristics**:
1. Media filled with doomsday narratives
2. Massive fund redemptions by investors
3. Analysts universally bearish
4. Stock valuations at historical lows
5. Good and bad companies sold indiscriminately
**Practical tips**:
- Prepare "shopping list" in advance (quality but undervalued companies)
- Do research during calm markets, act decisively during crises
- Buy in batches, as "bottom" cannot be precisely predicted
- Focus on systematic undervaluation of entire countries or regions
**Signal characteristics**:
1. Media filled with doomsday narratives
2. Massive fund redemptions by investors
3. Analysts universally bearish
4. Stock valuations at historical lows
5. Good and bad companies sold indiscriminately
**Practical tips**:
- Prepare "shopping list" in advance (quality but undervalued companies)
- Do research during calm markets, act decisively during crises
- Buy in batches, as "bottom" cannot be precisely predicted
- Focus on systematic undervaluation of entire countries or regions