Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Risks of Moving In and Out of Investments

Portrait of Warren Buffett Depicting Inspirational Quotes
Portrait of Warren Buffett Depicting Inspirational Quotes

"Since the basic game is so favourable, Charlie and I believe it's a terrible mistake to try to dance in and out of it based upon the turn of tarot cards, the predictions of "experts" or the ebb and flow of business activity. The risks of being out of the game are huge compared to the risks of being in it." Warren Buffett

First and foremost emphasis everywhere in italics is mine to highlight the importance.

What Warren Buffett means in this expression is that he and his partner and close friend Charles Munger had realised that moving in and out of investments in wonderful companies like Gillette (the word it in the quote) based on minor and irrelevant changes, news and so called experts who generate unwanted noise over television channels, day in and day out, is a terrible mistake. 

Wonderful companies have a long track record of successfully navigating occasional business difficulties. Business problems are a natural part of doing business and every company worth it's salt encounters such difficulties and resolves them.

Warren Buffett say that he and Charles Munger had figured out that selling highly valuable stocks of such great companies can keep you out of the game (remaining un-invested or divested) which is far more greater risk than remaining invested (being in the game).


Charles Munger Warren Buffett's partner and friend
Risks of Dancing In and Out of Investments

In conclusion, the moral of the story is once you have identified excellent companies after a rigorous process of filtering and scrutiny, stay invested unmindful of frivolous news and predictions of so called experts.




Monday, January 23, 2017

Are Timeshare Companies Good Investment Options?

Man enjoying timeshare holiday on the beach
Man enjoying timeshare holiday on the beach
Dear Friend!

There could be two totally different kinds of Investments in time share companies as follows:

  1. Investment in time-shares - that is investing for ownership of a property for a certain period of the year so that the investor can enjoy a holiday - I do not think this is an investment for a return and is not suitable for discussion here.
  2. Investment in the shares of companies, which are engaged in the business of operating time-share holidays. I presume you are referring to this investment and proceed to answer the question.

In India two companies are popular names that are listed companies:


  1. Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Ltd. - Pioneer in India but had fallen into financial woes and its shares do not appear to be traded now though the company is still in operations.
  2. Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India Ltd. - a part of the strong Mahindra Group of companies.


Mahindra Holidays did not turn-up in my stock filtration and I have not evaluated this company. After you raised this question I have glimpsed through the financials and ratios of Mahindra Holidays and they look good.

I also peeped at the market conditions and the share is quite expensive. Please see the picture below:
There could be two totally different kinds of Investments in time share companies as follows:


Mahindra Holidays Share Market Snapshot
Mahindra Holidays Share Market Snapshot


PE multiple of 28.7 and price to book value of 5.35 make the scrip expensive. You may consider buying the share when the market is skeptical generally or specifically towards this stock.

Please also wait for a detailed investment research report on Mahindra Holidays soon, which you can find on this site along with others already published at:

  • For studying on the web: Resesrch Reports
  • For downloading: Free Downloads

Thank you,

With Best Regards

Anand