Chris Davis, Chairman and Portfolio Manager of Davis Advisors, discusses his process for analyzing companies and his owner earnings-based approach. He shares his biggest lessons from his successful investors family, how Charlie Munger changed his life, and his thoughts on concentration and position sizing. They explore concepts like owner earnings, business growth, and the role of directors in creating shareholder value. They also touch on the influence of David Swenson and Jeff Bezos' strategies, as well as the importance of thinking like an owner and owning a business, not just a stock.
Understanding cash flow and owner earnings is crucial in valuing businesses beyond surface-level financial statements.
Thinking independently and assessing the long-term cash dynamics and value creation of businesses is more valuable than relying solely on traditional accounting metrics.
Effective boards of directors prioritize shareholder interests and make decisions in the best interest of long-term value creation, not personal reputation or conformity.
Deep dives
Lessons from Family and Influences
Chris Davis reflects on the influence of his grandfather and father, both successful investors. He highlights the importance they placed on thinking like owners of businesses, rather than viewing stocks purely as numbers on a balance sheet. Davis learned early on that the value of a business goes beyond surface-level financial statements and involves understanding cash flow and owner earnings. This concept of owner earnings shaped his investment approach. He also emphasizes the need for constant learning and open-mindedness to adapt to the ever-changing market.
The Power of Understanding Owner Earnings
Davis explains the concept of owner earnings, which involves looking beyond the numbers on a balance sheet or income statement to assess the true value being created by a business. He shares an example of how his grandfather's insight into the misrepresentation of value in life insurance companies' financial statements shaped their investment approach. Davis advocates for thinking independently and understanding the cash dynamics and value creation of businesses over the long term, rather than relying solely on traditional accounting metrics.
The Importance of a Strong Board of Directors
Davis discusses the characteristics of an effective board of directors, drawing from his experience serving on boards such as Coca-Cola and Berkshire Hathaway. He emphasizes the need for directors to prioritize shareholder interests and act as representatives for investors rather than being overly concerned with personal reputation or conformity. Davis cites examples of boards, such as Philip Morris, that demonstrated courage and made decisions in the best interest of shareholders, even in challenging situations. He discusses the critical role of directors in protecting a company's culture and focusing on long-term value creation.
Challenges of Selling Winners and Sector Concentration
Davis candidly shares his struggle with selling stocks that have performed well, acknowledging the tendency to trim positions as they increase in value. He reflects on past mistakes and the challenge of balancing concentration in certain sectors, such as financials. Davis provides insights into how he mitigates risks, focusing on the specific business models and risk profiles within sectors rather than solely considering stock correlations or broad sector categorizations. He emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking and assessing businesses as owners rather than succumbing to the allure of short-term gains.
Durability of Dominant Technology Companies
Davis explores the idea of whether dominant technology companies, like the current big tech firms, can maintain their dominance over the long term. He discusses the concept of winner-take-all in the digital economy, where scale advantages and network effects can create enduring dominance. Davis draws parallels to other industries, such as consumer companies in the mid-20th century, which established durable scale advantages through national advertising and economies of scale. He challenges the notion of rapid disruption and postulates that certain technology companies may exhibit characteristics of longevity similar to established companies in other sectors.
In this episode, we are privileged to be joined by Chris Davis, Chairman and Portfolio Manager of Davis Advisors. Chris has built an outstanding long-term record as a value investor and also serves on the board of both Berkshire Hathaway and the Coca-Cola Company. We discuss his process for analyzing companies and his owner earnings-based approach that led him to companies like Amazon when many value investors avoided them. We also discuss his biggest lessons from his father and grandfather, both of whom were very successful investors as well, how Charlie Munger changed his life and his thoughts on concentration and position sizing.
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