I have been investing in markets for nearly 30 years. I remember first being interested in the stock market after the 1987 crash. I read everything I could about Warren Buffett. And went on to study finance in college finishing magna cum laude (and later earned my MBA). I started my professional career as a commercial banker in the early 1990s. Then, I started my own investment newsletter in 2004 and compiled a strong track record over the next 12 years, wrote four books, and traveled all over the world in search of great investment ideas. I’ve appeared as a guest on TV and radio shows, as well as numerous podcasts. In 2019, I co-founded Woodlock House Family Capital where I currently manage a portfolio of global investments.
I wrote...
100 Baggers: Stocks That Return 100-to-1 and How To Find Them
By
Christopher W. Mayer
What is my book about?
When I studied 100-baggers of the past, definite patterns emerged. In this book, you will learn the key characteristics of 100-baggers and why anybody can do this. It is truly an everyman's approach. You don't need an MBA or a finance degree. Some basic financial concepts are all you need along with a number of crutches or techniques that can help you get more out of your stocks and investing. The emphasis is always on the practical, so there are many stories and anecdotes to help illustrate important points. You should read this book if you want to get more out of your stocks. Even if you never get a 100-bagger, this book will help you turn up big winners and keep you away from losers and sleepy stocks that go nowhere.
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The Books I Picked & Why
100 to 1 in the Stock Market: A Distinguished Security Analyst Tells How to Make More of Your Investment Opportunities
By
Thomas William Phelps
Why this book?
The classic from 1972 is the book that inspired me to write 100 Baggers. Phelps studied all the stocks that returned at least 100 to 1 from 1932 to 1971. You’ll learn where to look for 100 to 1 stocks and what key traits to focus on. Phelps writes in a folksy and quotable manner as he expounds on his philosophy of buying right and holding on. He writes, “When I was a boy a carpenter working for my father made this sage observation: ‘A lot of shavings don’t make a good workman.’” Let Phelps show you the power of patient, long-term investing.
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The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success
By
William N. Thorndike Jr.
Why this book?
Jack Welch of GE fame was long thought to be a great CEO. GE’s stock compounded at a rate of 20.9% annually under his watch. If you invested $1 when he took the reins, that dollar would’ve been worth $48 when Immelt succeeded him 20 years later. Welch beat the S&P index 3.3x, a great record. Thorndike studies eight CEOs that collectively beat the S&P by over 20x. How did they do it? Thorndike clearly shows how these elite CEOs used a distinctive toolkit to create massive gains. A must-have guide for investors looking for big winners.
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Intelligent Fanatics Project: How Great Leaders Build Sustainable Businesses
By
Sean Iddings,
Ian Cassel
Why this book?
A companion to The Outsiders, Iddings and Cassel highlight eight more fantastic business builders, including Herb Kelleher at Southwest, Sol Price at Price Club, and Les Schwab at Les Schab Tire Centers. You see what strategies led to their great success and how you can look for similar business models and leaders in today’s markets.
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Quality Investing: Owning the Best Companies for the Long Term
By
Lawrence A. Cunningham,
Torkell T. Eide,
Patrick Hargreaves
Why this book?
If you want to own stocks for a long time to go after those 100 baggers, you’ll need to own quality assets that you don’t need to trade frequently. This book will give you an important framework for how to evaluate business quality. There are good discussions here on competitive advantages, pricing power, industry structure, and brand strength, among other things. The book has plenty of examples and is not long or hard to read.
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Investing for Growth: How to Make Money by Only Buying the Best Companies in the World - An Anthology of Investment Writing, 2010-20
By
Terry Smith
Why this book?
This book is really a collection of previously published material -- shareholder letter, op-eds, etc. -- by Terry Smith who founded Fundsmith, a firm with an exceptional long-term track record. The book covers a lot of ideas, but it sets you in the right frame of mind for investing successfully. Smith also provides ample warning about what not to do (i.e., market timing).
