Although I normally do not write book reviews, I agreed to read and review Mariusz Skonieczny's book, Why Are We So Clueless About The Stock Market. Since I would have a few days off around the holidays and the new year, I suppose he made the ask to review the book at an opportune time.I believe this book is best suited for new, or somewhat new, investors in the stock market. Mariusz does a nice job leading his readers from the beginning or inception of a stock, a company's capital structure and through the time one should consider selling a stock. The book includes a chapter on the economy including a brief discussion on the economic cycle. Mariusz's investment style seems more of a contrarian or value one. He rhetorically ask a couple of questions,
- "When is it best to own a great company--in good times or bad times?"
- "When is one more likely to buy a great company at a reasonable price--in good times or bad times?"
Both are important questions investors need to answer as they buy and evaluate stocks. He does provide answers to the questions in his book.
Buying stocks is not too different from buying real estate. That is, one makes money in real estate not when they sell it, but when they buy it. In other words, what one makes is based on how much they paid for it. Real estate investors have been finding that out over the last year to year and a half. So I digressed.
The book covers topics on valuing stocks based on the dividend discount model. Additionally, he shows how company leverage can add value to a company's earnings. He shows how the value that is created (or not created) is based on the financing cost and the company's return on equity or ROE. In the chapter on "Basic Capital Structure" he provides investors with a way to evaluate a company's earnings growth and whether reinvested earnings are being reinvested "efficiently" as he states.
And finally, beyond the financial numbers, he discusses what comprises a good business. Does the company have a "wide moat" around its products and market. If so, this type of company tends to have higher ROEs and thus potentially higher sustainable returns.
At the end of the book Mariusz provides several case studies or real examples that utilize the topics he covers in his book in order to evaluate specific companies.
In conclusion, I found the book an easy read that was not mired in technical details. Having said this, Mariusz provides his readers with spreadsheets useful in valuing a company's stock. Additionally, I do believe this book will provide its readers with a good starting foundation upon which to build their investment knowledge.
Buying stocks is not too different from buying real estate. That is, one makes money in real estate not when they sell it, but when they buy it. In other words, what one makes is based on how much they paid for it. Real estate investors have been finding that out over the last year to year and a half. So I digressed.
The book covers topics on valuing stocks based on the dividend discount model. Additionally, he shows how company leverage can add value to a company's earnings. He shows how the value that is created (or not created) is based on the financing cost and the company's return on equity or ROE. In the chapter on "Basic Capital Structure" he provides investors with a way to evaluate a company's earnings growth and whether reinvested earnings are being reinvested "efficiently" as he states.
And finally, beyond the financial numbers, he discusses what comprises a good business. Does the company have a "wide moat" around its products and market. If so, this type of company tends to have higher ROEs and thus potentially higher sustainable returns.
At the end of the book Mariusz provides several case studies or real examples that utilize the topics he covers in his book in order to evaluate specific companies.
In conclusion, I found the book an easy read that was not mired in technical details. Having said this, Mariusz provides his readers with spreadsheets useful in valuing a company's stock. Additionally, I do believe this book will provide its readers with a good starting foundation upon which to build their investment knowledge.
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