The Dance of Patience
October 1st
The most common cause of low prices is pessimism—sometimes pervasive, sometimes specific to a company or industry. We want to do business in such an environment, not because we like pessimism but because we like the prices it produces. It’s optimism that is the enemy of the rational buyer.
The dance of the stock market is a pendulum swing between optimism and pessimism, with prices moving to its rhythm. It might seem logical to join the dance during times of optimism, when everyone else is celebrating. However, the prudent approach is to wait it out. To approach when pessimism looms and the crowd dwindles.
Pessimism brings opportunity. It's a time when companies or industries may be undervalued due to negative sentiment or fear. That's when rational investors see an array of possibilities. They seize upon these low-priced quality stocks, knowing full well that the tide of pessimism will eventually recede, leaving the sands of optimism in its wake.
Optimism, conversely, can cloud judgment, causing investors to pay more than what's reasonable. Thus, it becomes a deterrent for those who aim to buy low and sell high. So as rational investors, we must learn to make our own path, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to seize. It's about being contrarian yet rational, not for the sake of going against the grain, but to make sound investment decisions.
In the market's dance, patience, not optimism, is our guide. For in investing, the quiet, consistent effort is often the most rewarding.
Copyright © 2023 by Scott Sansovich