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Scorecard # 24 – Facebook Redux

The Value Fund returned +5.3% in 2018 net of fees and expenses (or approximately +7.1% gross). We managed to outperform both of our benchmarks in 2018. The S&P/TSX Total Return Index finished down -8.9% for the year. The S&P500 Total Return Index was down -4.4% for the year. Measured in Canadian dollars (the Value Fund’s reporting currency) the S&P500 Total Return was up +3.9% for the year.

Jan, 23, 2019

Scorecard # 23 – Fear and Courage

There is a concept in cycling that has been adopted by famed value investor Tom Russo that resonates with us – namely the capacity to suffer. There will be times when our prudent value investing approach will be out of step with the markets and we will experience the pain of looking foolish for ignoring expensive and/or poor-quality stocks. But our long-term and patient approach when things aren’t going our way serves us well when panic returns. The ability to endure short-term pain (be it psychological, emotional and/or physical) often leads to long-term rewards. Buffett has often said that temperament is more important than intelligence in investing. Fortunately we were wired a certain way that happens to be helpful in the investing arena.

Oct, 29, 2018

Home Capital Group

… The unfolding Home Capital saga is both tragic and full of irony. We have owned the stock in the past, but haven’t for some time. Over the past year, Home Capital’s stock is down 84% and the company has lost over $2 billion of market value. Over a billion dollars of that decline happened in the past 7 days. The reason? A classic run on the bank.

Apr, 27, 2017

Scorecard #18 – Cruel, Cruel Irony

… Over the past year, Home Capital’s stock is down (84%) and the company has lost over $2 billion of market value. Over a billion dollars of that decline happened in the past 7 days. The reason? A classic run on the bank. From my prior investment banking experience, I know the sector and the company very well. However, it has been so long since a bank failed in Canada that I actually had to look it up (1996 it seems).

Apr, 27, 2017

Scorecard #6 – Apples and Oranges

… The hardest part about value investing is having the discipline to be extremely patient. Attractive opportunities to buy shares of excellent companies on the cheap don’t come along very often. Market panics are a good source but far too infrequent. More often they come in the form of companies that are encountering a temporary problem and the market overreacts.

Jan, 10, 2013