by Keith Ashworth-Lord (Author)
This book concentrates on the investment style of Business Perspective Investing, as practiced by Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett. It takes the reader through the realisation that the thought process involved when buying shares in a company is no different to buying the company in its entirety.
Beginning with how to assess the quality of a business, it explains and illustrates with examples what to look for in company accounts, how to determine the value drivers of a business, the strength of its franchise and how to interpret key financial ratios and performance indicators. It discusses the ideal characteristics of a business worthy of investment so that you will develop a mental checklist of what to look out for. The book then sets out a number of valuation methods to determine the likely economic worth of a company. It is against this estimate that a judgement can be made as to whether a share price offers good value. The book concludes with thoughts on portfolio construction, in particular Focus Investing, where a concentrated approach is taken, and legitimate reasons for deciding to sell a holding. Throughout, the emphasis is on the methodology used to manage the SDL UK Buffettology Fund.Author Biography
Keith Ashworth-Lord graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Astrophysics before studying for a Master's degree in Management Studies at Imperial College. His career spans over thirty years in equity capital markets, working in company investment analysis, corporate finance and fund management. He has been Head of Research at Henry Cooke, Lumsden and Daiwa Securities and for many years was Chief Analyst at the investment publication Analyst. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, having formerly been an individual member of the Stock Exchange. He holds the Investment Management Certificate of the United Kingdom Society of Investment Professionals.
Prior to setting up Sanford DeLand Asset Management Ltd and the UK Buffettology Fund, he was a self-employed Consultant working with a variety of stockbroking, fund management and private investor clients. In recent years, he has won four stock picking awards conferred by Thomson-Reuters Star Mine. He is regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the investment philosophy of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger and a keen student of the teachings of Benjamin Graham and Philip Fisher.