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Learning that drives better investment decisions

Debt Burden Is Heaviest for the Gov’t in the US—but Not in China

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 15, 2019
Debt burden is heaviest for the gov’t in the US, not corporates—opposite case in China

Chart of the Day: China and US have more or less the same level of debt to GDP. In China, corporates have the highest burden while in the US the heaviest burden lies on the government.

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Great Improvement at One of the Philippines’ Largest Power Producers

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 14, 2019

First Gen Corporation is one of the Philippines’ largest electricity generators. The company currently has a capacity of 3,490MW which accounts for 15% of the Philippines’ domestic output. In the past 12 months, FGEN ranked among the top 124 out of 310 large Utilities companies worldwide.

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Balance the Risk Equilibrium

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 11, 2019
Top 5 of the Week of January 7 - Become a #betterinvestor

In our Top 5 this week, we consider the problem with repetition, look at balancing clients’ risk tolerance levels, and examine the flaws in our perception of risk. All this and more…

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Peaking US Net Margin and the Hidden Effect of Fed’s Policy

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 10, 2019
US net margin has recorded its highest peak since 1990 | #ChartOfTheDay

Chart of the Day: US net margin has recorded its highest peak since 1990. While net margin has been on the rise, efficiency has fallen. Fed’s policy of low interest rates has led to malinvestments, reducing efficiency.

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EV/EBITDA Has Only Been Higher in the US Before the Dot-Com Bubble Burst

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 9, 2019
Historically, EVEBITDA at this high level has led to negative subsequent returns on average | #ChartOfTheDay

Chart of the Day: The US market has traded in cheaper EV/EBITDA ranges 87% of the past 336 months. Historically, EV/EBITDA at this high level has led to negative subsequent returns on average.

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Serving the Global Container Shipping Industry

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 8, 2019

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is an international operator of common user container terminals and serves the global container shipping industry. Profitable Growth has fluctuated below the average level since 2015.

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Average Financial Performance at PetroChina Subsidiary Kunlun Energy

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 7, 2019

Kunlun Energy Limited is a Hong Kong-listed subsidiary of PetroChina (857 HK), the largest oil and gas producer in China and one of the biggest globally. Profitable Growth has been mostly average, ranked at either #5 or #6 throughout the years.

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Poker-Like Decision Making

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 4, 2019
Top 5 of the Week of December 31 - Become a #betterinvestor

In our Top 5 this week, we look at the subject of power and thrift, examine generating alpha through beta funds, and uncover investing lessons from a poker player. All this and more…

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Only Asset Utilization Ranked Above Average at GS Retail

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 3, 2019

GS Retail Company Limited is a Korea-based company founded in 1971. It engages mainly in franchise chain and convenience stores. Profitable Growth has fallen from an already unimpressive rank of #6 in 2014 to be among the worst in the past 12 months.

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Poor Profitable Growth at Thai Union Group

By Become a Better Investor | Jan 2, 2019

Thai Union Group Public Company Limited has top global market share in frozen and canned seafood and sells under its own and other brands. In the past 12 months, TU ranked among the worst 120 out of 600 large Consumer Staples companies worldwide.

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