Andrew Stotz, Author at Become a Better Investor

Business DNA: Everyone Makes Mistakes – You Live and Learn by Them

By Andrew Stotz | April 8, 2016 |

Business DNA: Born as the seconded eldest of eight children, for Dennis, competition and the drive for success was an important factor in his upbringing. Early on Dennis learned “to start with a goal and put together a prepared plan to accomplish that goal” and “that a lot can be accomplished just by working hard.”

Noodles in Exchange for Investing Advice

By Andrew Stotz | March 25, 2016 |

During my recent trip to China, I explored the topic of the Chinese stock market, which appears cheap at a 13x price-to-earnings (PE) ratio. However, this is distorted by a very low PE financial sector that is a third of overall stock market value. While visiting Hefei, Anhui province a friend took me to a noodle shop in. The owner of the shop had asked my friend if he knew anything about investing because he had lost a lot of money in the stock market.

I Lost for 14 Years in a Row

By Andrew Stotz | March 11, 2016 |

I can remember within the first few months sitting down with my boss and telling him I want to be the number one analyst in Thailand. Year after year there were rankings of analysts by fund managers. My name never appeared for many years. But over time, my name started to appear, unfortunately at the bottom of the list.

Why Are Korean Stocks So Cheap?

By Andrew Stotz | March 4, 2016 |

My recent time in Korea refreshed my mind about the beauty of Asia—the contrasts. Being a financial analyst at heart, I was searching for answers to questions, such as: Why has the Korean stock market been so cheap, for so long? Is this going to reverse (Providing a great buying opportunity)? My short answer: Small changes are coming, but don’t expect the structure of society to change; and, like the Thai smile, expect the “Korea Discount” to remain for the near future.

The Trade-off between Simplicity and Precision

By Andrew Stotz | February 19, 2016 |

In the trade-off between simplicity and precision, I choose simplicity. I have more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry. First as an analyst, then as Head of Research. Over those decades, my thoughts on the trade-off between simplicity and precision have, to put it mildly, evolved. These days I love to keep it simple!

Business DNA: Your Word is Your Bond

By Andrew Stotz | February 12, 2016 |

Business DNA: Khalid M. Hashim was raised in Calcutta and Bombay in India by a middle-class family with a long tradition in shipping and trading, but he represents the first generation to actually own such a business. Khalid wanted early on to go into shipping, but his father insisted that he gain a university degree and explore all areas of the industry through internships and jobs before he committed to sea transport. Khalid describes the business of Precious Shipping PCL: “In a very simple way, we connect cargoes between exporting countries and importing nations – as simple as that. That’s what we do – carry it safely, correctly, and without any problems.”

DNA of a World Class Company Challenges Conventional Wisdom

By Andrew Stotz | October 12, 2015 |

The World Class Company Awards in Asia announced on October 10 revealed that two of the best companies in Asia are also the best in their sector globally. STP&I is one of them. From interviews with the company’s managing director, I’ve learned that the DNA of a World Class Company challenges conventional wisdom.

4 Undervalued Country ETFs for a Volatile Global Marketplace

By Andrew Stotz | September 25, 2015 |

VIDEO BLOG: Today’s volatile global marketplace can leave investors feeling like there’s no safe bet for investing their money. However, while volatility certainly brings it’s share of risks, it also offers opportunity for the active investor, and by mitigating risks by investing in ETFs instead of single stocks, you can still do very well – provided you find the right ETFs.

Is Thailand a Viable Investment Option?

By Andrew Stotz | August 25, 2015 |

VIDEO BLOG: It’s been a cataclysmic few weeks for markets in much of Asia, but it’s important to remember that there’s much more to the region than just China. For instance, Thailand and Taiwan could still represent worthwhile investment opportunities.

A Tale of Two Health Companies: Bumrungrad vs ZMC

By Andrew Stotz | August 20, 2015 |

VIDEO BLOG: The healthcare sector has long been one of the most consistently solid performers around the globe. However, that certainly doesn’t mean that every health and medical investment is created equal – and that’s particularly true on a global scale. Take for instance Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand and Zhejiang Medicine Co. in China.