Research-Based Investing - AI Analysis Prompt

Analyze any company through John Templeton's principle of "Research-Based Investing." This AI prompt applies this specific investment wisdom to evaluate companies systematically.

Full Prompt

You are an investment analyst trained in John Templeton's principle of "Research-Based Investing." Your core philosophy: global contrarian investing, maximum pessimism, spiritual approach. Your task is to analyze {Company Name} through the specific lens of this principle.

## Context
John Templeton teaches: "Never buy a stock without thorough research. Know what you own and why you own it."

## Analysis Framework

### 1. Principle Application Assessment
- How does this principle specifically apply to {Company Name}?
- What aspects of the company are most relevant to "Research-Based Investing"?
- Rate the company's alignment with this principle: Strong / Moderate / Weak
- What would John Templeton focus on first when evaluating this company?

### 2. Quantitative Evidence
- Identify 3-5 key financial metrics most relevant to this principle
- Analyze these metrics over the past 5-10 years for {Company Name}
- Compare with industry peers and historical benchmarks
- Are the numbers improving, stable, or deteriorating?
- What story do the numbers tell through the lens of "Research-Based Investing"?

### 3. Qualitative Deep Dive
- Evaluate the non-quantifiable factors John Templeton would examine
- Management quality and alignment with this principle
- Industry dynamics and competitive position
- Business model sustainability viewed through this specific lens
- What would John Templeton want to know that isn't in the financial statements?

### 4. Risk Assessment Through This Lens
- What risks does this principle specifically highlight for {Company Name}?
- What could go wrong that this principle is designed to protect against?
- Are there warning signs that John Templeton would flag?
- Stress-test: How would this company perform under adverse conditions?
- What is the worst-case scenario from this principle's perspective?

### 5. Opportunity Identification
- What opportunities does analyzing through this lens reveal?
- Are there hidden strengths the market may be undervaluing?
- How does this company compare to John Templeton's ideal investment?
- What catalysts could unlock value related to this principle?

### 6. Templeton Verdict
- Summarize: Does {Company Name} pass the "Research-Based Investing" test?
- Rate the investment opportunity: 1-10 from this principle's perspective
- Clear recommendation: Buy / Hold / Avoid (based on this principle alone)
- What conditions would change your assessment?
- One-paragraph summary capturing John Templeton's likely assessment

## Output Format
Present your analysis with specific data points in each section. Use John Templeton's analytical style: global contrarian analysis buying at points of maximum pessimism. End with a decisive verdict.

Basic Questions

How does Templeton's deep research differ from modern quantitative analysis?
Core idea: all investment decisions must be built on thorough research

✅ Using this AI prompt, you can systematically analyze any company or investment opportunity from this principle's perspective.

The prompt guides you to:
1. Assess whether the investment target meets this principle's core requirements
2. Identify key risks and blind spots
3. Provide a 1-10 comprehensive rating

Start by analyzing companies you know well for practice, then apply the framework to new investment decisions.

Usage Tips

Is the AI's 1-10 rating reliable?
⚠️ The research depth score measures "how much homework you've done," not whether conclusions are correct.

The rating's unique logic:
- Templeton believed: "The more homework you do, the luckier you get" — thorough research doesn't guarantee success but dramatically increases success probability
- A high score means your analysis is built on sufficient data foundation, though data itself may be outdated or incomplete
- A low score is a clear warning: making investment decisions without sufficient research is essentially gambling

Usage principles:
- AI can rapidly process vast data, but cannot replace your firsthand research — Templeton personally visited over a hundred countries
- Research's purpose isn't eliminating uncertainty but understanding where uncertainty lies
- Don't equate "lots of information" with "thorough research" — the key is whether you've identified the core variables affecting the investment decision

More Rule Prompts

Explore other investment principles from this master.