Value investing tries to buy businesses for less than a careful estimate of what they are worth. The gap between price and estimated value is sometimes called a margin of safety. The approach needs patience, because a cheap looking share can stay cheap for a long time or prove cheap for a reason.
Key takeaways
- Low ratios alone do not make a stock a value buy if the business is permanently impaired.
- Value investors study accounts, competitive position, and cash generation rather than short term chart noise.
- Being early can feel like being wrong when prices keep falling after you buy.
- No style works in every market climate, and losses remain possible.