Here are the key principles of value investing | Re-ThinkWealth
10 February 2023
Who is this article for:
For beginners who wants to understand more about value investing and what are the key principles of value investing
What is value investing?
Value investing is a well-established investment strategy that has been used by many successful investors, including Warren Buffett.
It involves buying undervalued stocks in the market and holding onto them until the market realizes the true value of the business. It can take up to 3 years or more, or sometimes the price to value may converge in as little as a few months.

The key principles of value investing focus on finding good quality companies with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential.
Principle #1: Focus on the intrinsic value
The first value investing principle focuses on the company’s intrinsic value.
This means looking beyond its market price and considering its underlying assets, earnings, and growth potential.
Value investors aim to buy stocks that are trading at a lower price than their intrinsic value in the hope that the market will eventually recognize their true worth and the stock price will rise accordingly.

Image source: CNBC
Warren Buffett said: “Price is what you pay, value is what you get.”
Principle #2: Focus on understanding the business quality

The second principle of value investing is to prioritize understanding the business quality of the stocks we invest in over quantity.
Rather than buying as many stocks as possible, I prefer to focus on a smaller number of high-quality companies that I believe have strong long-term growth potential.
This is because I believe it is better to invest in a few companies that I understand well rather than spreading my investment portfolio too thinly across many stocks.
Principles #3: Look for a sustainable edge
Another key value investing principle is looking for companies with a sustainable competitive advantage, also known as a “moat.”
A competitive advantage or a sustainable edge is an aspect of a company that makes it difficult for competitors to enter the market and gain a significant share of its business.
Companies with a strong moat have a better chance of long-term success and therefore make better investments.
Some examples of moats include brand recognition, economies of scale, intellectual property, and network effects.

For example, Coca-Cola obviously has a competitive advantage or sustainable edge in its brand recognition.
They do not just sell sugared water. They are selling feelings.
Principle #4: Focus on the long-term

The fourth principle of value investing is to focus on the long term.
Value investors understand that the stock market can be volatile in the short term, so they are not overly concerned with short-term price fluctuations.
Instead, they focus on the long-term prospects of the companies they invest in and aim to hold onto their investments for several years.
This allows them to reap the benefits of compounding over time and benefit from any long-term growth in the companies they invest in.
Principle #5: Focus on managing our risk

Finally, value investors also place a strong emphasis on risk management.
They understand that investing always involves some level of risk, and therefore they aim to minimize this risk by carefully selecting the companies they invest in.
This involves thoroughly researching companies before investing and regularly monitoring their financial performance to ensure their thesis on investing in the company remains intact.
Also, we should know that the biggest risk in investing is ourselves. We should only invest in companies we understand at a price we are comfortable with and have high conviction in.
Conclusion
In conclusion, value investing is a proven investment strategy that has been used by many successful investors over the years.
It involves focusing on a company’s intrinsic value, prioritizing quality over quantity, looking for companies with a sustainable competitive advantage or edge, focusing on the long-term, and managing risk.
There are a lot more principles of value investing. Still, these are the key principles that all value investors should aim to have to build a strong investment portfolio that provides them with long-term growth and stability.
If you are just starting out, value investing is a strategy that is well worth putting in an effort to learn more and master over time.
Disclosure:
I/we have no stock, option, or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Disclaimer:
The information provided is for educational and general information purposes only and is not intended to be personalized investment or financial advice. We make no promises as to the accuracy or usefulness of the information we present.
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Chris Susanto
Chris is the Founder of Re-ThinkWealth.com & VIM (Value Investing Mentorship Club®), as well as the Co-Founder of Alevate Invest.
He is also The Vice Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors at Bansea and an Independent Director in Bansea Fund 2. Bansea is Asia’s oldest angel investment network, founded in 2001.
Chris started investing in stocks early at age 21 and is a big proponent of business-like stock investing – a mixture of value and growth investing.
He invests in listed companies where there is value to be found (as long as it is still within his circle of competence), be it a turnaround, depressed, value, or quality growth company (compounders).
Some of the places where Chris has been invited to speak or has added value as a mentor or writer include Singapore Polytechnic, SMU Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), Seedly TV, Dollars and Sense, The New Savvy, Value Walk Blog, Investment Moats, NUS Tembusu College, NUS Investment Society, CGS-CIMB Singapore, Singapore Financial Conference by NTU IIC, The Financial Coconut Podcast, Money FM 89.3 and Internationally in Myanmar. He is also a part of the SMU BFI (Business Families Institute) network.
Chris is also a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.
“Meditation, more than any other factor, has been the reason for what success I’ve had. Meditation leads to openness, to freedom, where a kind of intuition just comes through. You could step back and put things in perspective” – Ray Dalio on Transcendental Meditation, founder of the largest hedge fund in the world with $140 Billion under management.

Maximize Your Value Investing Skills with VIM – Book Your Free 1-1 Discovery Call with Chris today. VIM offers personalized learning from a seasoned mentor. Ideal for business owners and senior professionals aged 30-50. Apply now to join this exclusive program. Limited spaces available.
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