There are two ways to think about investing: Some people think the value is in the things a business owns, like buildings or equipment. Others think the value comes from how well the business can use those things to make money. Two famous investors, Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, represent these two different ways of thinking.
Graham, the father of value investing, saw the value in the hard assets themselves. He believed that if you could buy a company's assets at a discount, you were getting a good deal, regardless of whether or not the company was actually profitable. Buffett, on the other hand, saw the hard assets as only valuable as the business's ability to profit on them. In other words, the higher the profit on assets, the higher the value of the business.
To illustrate this point, let's consider an example: two friends, Bob and Sally, are both looking to invest in a restaurant. Bob is a follower of Graham's philosophy, and he decides to invest in a restaurant that has a lot of expensive equipment and real estate. He figures that even if the restaurant fails, he can sell off the equipment and real estate for a profit.
Sally, on the other hand, follows Buffett's philosophy. She looks for a restaurant that not only has valuable hard assets but also has a proven track record of profitability. She finds a restaurant that has a prime location, a loyal customer base, and a menu that's always in demand.
Bob and Sally both invest the same amount of money, but over time, Sally's investment outperforms Bob's by a wide margin. Why? Because the restaurant Sally invested in is profitable, and the value of the hard assets is only part of what makes the business successful.
This is a lesson that all investors should take to heart. While hard assets can be valuable, they are only as valuable as the business's ability to use them to generate profit. Investing in a company simply because it has valuable assets is not enough. You need to look at the big picture and consider the company's profitability, customer base, and potential for growth.
At the same time, it's important to note that there's nothing wrong with buying hard assets at a discount. In fact, Warren Buffett himself has been known to do this on occasion. However, the key is to do so with an eye towards the business's profitability, rather than simply buying assets for the sake of owning them.
When it comes to investing, there are many different strategies you can follow. However, the most successful investors are those who take a balanced approach, combining the best of both worlds: the ability to see the value in hard assets while also recognizing that profitability is the key to success. So next time you're considering an investment, remember to keep both Graham and Buffett in mind, and you'll be well on your way to success.
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