Joel Greenblatt – Common Sense for Value at Gotham Capital (Capital Allocators, EP.165)
Nov 23, 2020
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Legendary value investor Joel Greenblatt shares his career journey, timeless investment beliefs, and more. Topics include managing his own money, diversified approach, Value Investors Club, seeding managers, and applying investment lessons to education.
Joel Greenblatt emphasizes the importance of finding undervalued assets through value investing principles for successful investment decisions.
Transitioning to a diversified investment model prioritizes risk management, seizing opportunities, and ensuring sustainable returns in a dynamic market environment.
Individual investors' advantage lies in their longer time horizon, enabling them to capitalize on intrinsic value, navigate market volatility, and focus on long-term success.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Investment Platforms
Investment platforms like Ten East offer sophisticated investors access to private markets without the cost and complexity of managing a family office. These platforms, led by experts like Michael Lefel, source diverse investment opportunities such as private credit, real estate, and venture capital, providing exposure to unique investments not easily accessible through traditional channels.
Joel Greenblatt's Investing Journey
Joel Greenblatt, a renowned value investor, shares insights into his investment career in the podcast. From discovering Benjamin Graham's value investing principles to learning from Warren Buffett, Greenblatt's journey highlights the significance of finding undervalued assets and focusing on intrinsic value when making investment decisions.
Transition to Diversified Investment Approach
The shift towards a more diversified investment approach stemmed from the realization that long-term success required a balanced portfolio. While the initial concentrated model focused on generating alpha through value investing strategies, the transition to a diversified model emphasized the importance of managing risk, capturing opportunities, and ensuring sustainable returns in a changing market landscape.
Impact of Individual Investors' Time Horizon
The podcast delves into the advantage individual investors have in their longer time horizon compared to institutions. This advantage allows individual investors to navigate market volatility, focus on intrinsic value analysis, and capitalize on opportunities over the long term. As the investment landscape evolves with increasing focus on short-term performance, the patience and strategic view of individual investors become a valuable asset in achieving investment success.
Educational Policy and Investment Perspective
The podcast delves into the importance of educational policy and investment decisions from a long-term investor's perspective. It highlights how politicians, economists, and academics view problem-solving differently compared to long-term investors. By examining issues like living wages, immigration, retirement savings, and banking reform, the episode emphasizes the need for a strategic and forward-thinking approach to address challenges. The focus is placed on the long-term benefits of initiatives like education, which are viewed as enduring investments with potential significant impacts over time.
Successes in Charter Schools and Alternative Certification
The episode discusses the efficacy of charter schools, particularly highlighting Success Academy's success in improving outcomes for low-income and minority students. By outperforming wealthier districts on state tests, these charter schools showcase the potential impact of tailored educational approaches. Furthermore, the concept of alternative certification for high-paying jobs is explored, suggesting that companies like Microsoft could set standards for tests and certifications in lieu of traditional degrees to create more accessible pathways to employment. The discussion underscores the importance of innovative solutions in education and employment to address systemic challenges.
Joel Greenblatt is a legendary value investor, founder of Gotham Capital, longtime teacher at Columbia Business School, and author of four investment books, the latest of which, Common Sense: The Investors’ Guide to Equality, Opportunity, and Growth recently hit the bookstands.
Our conversation takes a tour through Joel’s career. We cover his background, early success running a concentrated portfolio, closing of the fund to manage his own money, and re-opening with a more diversified approach. We discuss Joel’s timeless investment beliefs and along the way also discuss the Value Investors Club, seeding managers, and applying investment lessons to education.