Continuation of our series on portfolio management and the Buffett Partnership Letters, please see our previous articles for more details. Conservatism, Volatility
“Proponents of institutional investing frequently cite its conservative nature. If ‘conservatism’ is interpreted to mean ‘productive of results varying only slightly from average experience,’ I believe the characterization is proper…However, I believe that conservatism is more properly interpreted to mean ‘subject to substantially less temporary or permanent shrinkage in value than total experience.’”
“The first might be better labeled ‘conventionalism’ what it really says is that ‘when others are making money in the general run of securities, so will we and to about the same degree; when they are losing money, we’ll do it at about the same rate.’ This is not to be equated with ‘when others are making it, we’ll make as much and when they are losing it, we will lose less.’ Very few investment programs accomplish the latter – we certainly don’t promise it but we do intend to keep trying.”
Notice Buffett’s definition of conservatism in investing involves both “temporary or permanent shrinkage in value” – this is in contrast to a later Buffett who advises shrugging off temporary shrinkages in value. Why this change occurred is subject to speculation.
The second quote is far more interesting. Buffett links the concept of conservatism with the idea of portfolio volatility upside and downside capture vs. an index (or whatever industry benchmark of your choosing).
Ted Lucas of Lattice Strategies wrote an article in 2010 attributing Warren Buffett’s investment success to Buffett’s ability, over a long period of time, to consistently capturing more upside than downside volatility vs. the S&P 500. Based on the quote above, Buffett was very much cognizant of the idea of portfolio volatility upside vs. downside capture, so Ted Lucas’ assertion may very well be correct.
Sizing, AUM
“In the last three years we have come up with only two or three new ideas a year that have had such an expectancy of superior performance. Fortunately, in some cases, we have made the most of them…It is difficult to be objective about the causes for such diminution of one’s own productivity. Three factors that seem apparent are: (1) a somewhat changed market environment; (2) our increased size; and (3) substantially more competition.
It is obvious that a business based upon only a trickle of fine ideas has poorer prospects than one based upon a steady flow of such ideas. To date the trickle has provided as much financial nourishment as the flow…a limited number of ideas causes one to utilize those available more intensely.”
Sizing is important because when good ideas are rare, you have to make the most of them. This is yet another example of how, when applied correctly, thoughtful portfolio construction & management could enhance portfolio returns.
As AUM increases or declines, and as availability of ideas ebb and flow – both of these factors impact a wide variety of portfolio management decisions.
When To Buy, Intrinsic Value, Expected Return , Opportunity Cost
“The quantitative and qualitative aspects of the business are evaluated and weighted against price, both on an absolute basis and relative to other investment opportunities.”
“…new ideas are continually measured against present ideas and we will not make shifts if the effect is to downgrade expectable performance. This policy has resulted in limited activity in recent years…”
Buffett’s buying decision were based not only on the relationship between purchase price and intrinsic value, but also contribution to total “expectable performance,” and an investment’s merits when compared against “other investment opportunities,” the last of which is essentially an opportunity cost calculation.
Sizing, Diversification
“We have something over $50 million invested, primarily in marketable securities, of which only about 10% is represented by our net investment in HK [Hochschild, Kohn, & Co]. We have an investment of over three times this much in a marketable security…”
Hochschild, Kohn = 10% NAV
Another investment = “three times” size of Hochschild, or ~30% NAV
So we know in 1966, 40% of Buffett’s portfolio NAV is attributable to 2 positions.