In this episode of Intelligent Investment Today, we explore one of the most overlooked yet powerful principles in value investing: thinking and acting like a true owner of the business in which we hold stock. Host David Coombs breaks down why adopting an ownership mindset isn't just a philosophical stance, it's a practical strategy that can lead to long-term investment success. Drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom of Benjamin Graham, we discuss how acting like an owner fosters deeper insight, emotional discipline, and smarter decision-making.Whether you are a seasoned investor or just getting started, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you view your portfolio - and your role in it.

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In this episode of Intelligent Investment Today, host David Coombs steps outside the typical boundaries of value investing to explore a surprising topic: intelligent speculation. While speculation is often seen as the antithesis of value investment—as famously defined by Benjamin Graham—David asks whether there’s ever room for a small, controlled gamble in a disciplined investor’s portfolio.

From defining what truly separates investment from speculation, to sharing a personal story about backing a favorite newspaper, this episode examines whether speculation can be reframed as a recreational pursuit rather than a financial strategy. Tune in to hear how to keep speculation fun, affordable, and safely isolated from your serious investment efforts.

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In this edition we re-examine one of the central tenets of value investment - The Margin Of Safety Principle. This principle was put forward by Benjamin Graham to insure against mistakes or errors of judgement in the selection of stock. The principles demands a discount to intrinsic value to create a buffer zone against the risks associated with being wrong. In this episode we shall look in closer detail at the principle and consider what this margin should be in percentage terms.

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In this edition we take a look at dividend policy and the habit that many businesses have fallen into of retaining earnings when it is not always in the shareholders best interest for them to do so. We consider why many businesses and management teams like to retain earnings rather than pay them out as dividends and why many investors instinctively believe that this is in their best interest.

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In this edition we look at some of the common traits shared by the typical value investor. One of the main qualities seems to be our need to obtain value for money whether that be in the purchase of stocks at less than their intrinsic value or when buying a multi pack of Coca-Cola. We will consider some aspects of character that seem to be ingrained in value investor and cannot be taught.

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In this edition we look into a recent report of growing excitement on a certain Reddit forum about a whole new bunch of stocks. What one financial newspaper is tentatively dubbing Gamestop 2.0, we consider if investors have learned their lesson from the previous meme stock craze or we are about to replay the whole thing again.

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In this episode we investigate the pros and cons of investing in smaller listed businesses such as those listed on London's AIM index (Alternative Investments Market). 

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In this episode we take the efficient markets hypothesis and consider if it really can stand up to scrutiny. Does the parable of Mr Market offer a better understanding of how the markets work in reality? 

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In this edition we take a look at the career highs and lows of The British Value Investor Neil Woodford. After 26 years of Buffett rivalling performance at his Invesco Fund his reputation was heavily tarnished after the investment fund he set up collapsed leaving an estimated 300,000 investors out of pocket. We look at what went wrong and consider if his pariah status is deserved or whether we should really give him a break.

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In this edition we take a look at the Japanese economic miracle. In the four decades that followed the Second World War Japan's economy went on to become the world's third largest. We then look at the lost decades that followed the economic crash of the early nineteen nineties and consider if we could ever see the like again somewhere else in the world. 

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