Michael Mauboussin, Head of Consilient Research at Counterpoint Global, specializes in valuing intangible assets. He dives into the differences between traditional and modern valuations, particularly in tech stocks. The discussion covers how accounting changes affect investor perceptions and the complexities of valuing major firms like Microsoft. Mauboussin also unpacks the challenges of valuing these assets in mergers and acquisitions, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of revenue generation and market behavior.
The podcast emphasizes the growing significance of intangible assets in company valuations, urging investors to adopt new measurement techniques for better insights.
A crucial theme discussed is the need for investors to rethink value investing criteria, considering how companies structure their intangible investments and revenue models.
Deep dives
Stock Market Trends and Observations
The podcast discusses the recent stock market recovery, particularly highlighting the notable surge in technology stocks. It notes that while various sectors have benefited, tech companies continue to dominate, with the NASDAQ performing exceptionally well. The conversation touches on how the pandemic has accelerated certain trends, such as the growing dominance of online retail and the increasing valuations of previously considered expensive stocks. This scenario creates a perplexing environment where high-multiple stocks thrive while those deemed cheap continue to decline, raising questions about value investing strategies.
Value vs. Growth Investing Challenges
A significant theme in the podcast is the ongoing debate between value and growth investing, addressing why value stocks have underperformed for an extended period. The discussion suggests outdated accounting practices may contribute to the challenge of accurately assessing company valuations. Investors are encouraged to rethink what constitutes a value stock by possibly redefining their criteria to include stocks that traditionally would not fit the mold. This reexamination could offer more opportunities, especially if value investing is adjusted to account for changes in market dynamics and accounting standards.
The Importance of Intangible Assets
The podcast underscores how intangible assets have gained increasing relevance in evaluating company value, particularly in today's market landscape. It emphasizes the need for improved measurement techniques for intangible investments such as branding and customer acquisition costs, which have largely been ignored in traditional accounting practices. The discussion reveals that many contemporary companies significantly invest in such intangible assets, yet these expenditures often negatively impact reported earnings when they are expensed rather than capitalized. This situation complicates investors' assessments of a company's true value and future earning potential.
Adapting Investment Strategies
Listeners are urged to consider adapting their investment strategies in light of the shifts in how companies operate and generate revenue. The speaker proposes that investors should begin by analyzing how companies structure their investments and the subsequent returns, rather than relying solely on historical financial metrics. They highlight the necessity of understanding a company's business model and how it evolves in a competitive environment, particularly regarding recurring revenue structures, like subscriptions. This tailored approach can help investors make more informed decisions about the actual value of companies, particularly in a landscape dominated by intangible assets.
Measuring a company's book value is a classic practice among investors seeking to understand how much a firm's actual assets are worth. But what happens when a firm's assets are not things like buildings, factories, and land, but intangible assets, such as intellectual property and brand value? How does that change the task of analyzing a company's intrinsic worth? On this episode, we speak with Michael Mauboussin, Head of Consilient Research at Counterpoint Global (part of Morgan Stanley) about valuing these assets, and how investors can use this information to get a better read on their investments.