Portfolio manager Justin Toner shares his experience managing stocks in times of crisis. Discussions include contrasting meetings with auto companies, concentration and diversification in portfolio management, journey from stocks to bonds to equity research, and concluding episode with sponsor description.
Understanding the market's forward-looking nature is crucial during times of crisis.
Accurately assessing a company's strengths and weaknesses is vital for making investment decisions.
Deep dives
Lessons from Managing Stocks Through Crisis
In this podcast episode, equity portfolio manager Justin Toner shares the many lessons he's learned from managing stocks through periods of crisis. He highlights his experience starting his career just before 9/11, covering aerospace and defense companies during that time. He discusses the unique challenges and opportunities that arise during times of crisis and emphasizes the importance of understanding the market's forward-looking nature. Toner also shares a story of how a company's decision to increase their dividend during a period of negative sentiment led to significant long-term success for the entire industry.
Contrasting Meetings with Auto Companies
Toner recounts two contrasting meetings he had with auto companies during his career. In one meeting, a CEO downplayed the competitive challenges their company faced compared to a Japanese competitor. This meeting highlighted the disconnect between the company's perception of their competitive position and the market's assessment. In another meeting, a CFO accurately described the dire situation their company was facing, and this honest assessment allowed them to successfully turn around their operations. These meetings underscore the importance of accurately assessing a company's strengths and weaknesses and the impact it can have on investment decisions.
Successful Investment in Waste Connections
Toner discusses a successful investment in a company called Waste Connections. He recalls meeting with the company's CFO, who emphasized their simple focus on daily operations and delivering consistent service. Toner was impressed by the company's commitment to their core business and their ability to ignore distractions. This investment proved to be a compounding machine over time, providing strong returns due to the company's disciplined approach and focus on free cash flow generation.
What’s it like to manage stocks through periods of crisis? That’s what Capital Group portfolio manager Justin Toner learned in his first weeks on the job in September 2001 — and then continued to learn through the great financial crisis, the pandemic and beyond.