THE GLOBAL CONTRARIAN RESEARCH REPORT -
International Investment Recommendations with a Contrarian Approach
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prior to founding The Horizon Research Group and Horizon Asset
Management in 1994, Murray Stahl was a senior
investment officer in the Private Bank at Bankers Trust Company,
where he managed approximately $600 million of
individual, trust and institutional client assets. He directed
the investments of Bankers Trusts Special Opportunity,
Utility and Tangible Assets funds, and served as a member of
the Equity Strategy and Investment Strategy groups.
Mr. Stahl holds a BA in Computer Science and an MA in Asian
History from Brooklyn College, City University of
New York, and an MBA from Pace University.
INVESTMENT APPROACH
Given the rising correlation between the MSCI-EAFE and S&P
500 indices over the last ten years, it could be
argued that portfolio managers seeking to diversify internationally
have gradually lost their ability to lower volatility
through the purchase of foreign equities. The Global Contrarian
avoids companies that rely heavily on U.S.
operations or are vulnerable to a slowdown in the U.S. export
market. The rising middle classes of Russia, India,
and China and the commensurate increase in disposable incomes
will inevitably benefit the most well positioned
local companies. The identification of investment opportunities
with potential for double-digit, uncorrelated returns
requires analysis of companies whose success is tied to their
local economy.
Investment opportunities arise when those companies with the
strongest competitive positions and highest barriers to
entry also exhibit high and sustainable returns on invested
capital. Understandably, 95% of U.S.-based publicly
traded companies with these characteristics trade at fair value.
However, international equity analysis is plagued by
misunderstanding and manipulated information, thereby creating
an opportunity for The Global Contrarian to add
value by navigating and deciphering this maze of information.
STRUCTURE OF SERVICE
The service provides in-depth reports on 18 to 22 non-U.S.
domiciled companies annually. Updates on
recommended companies are provided when events of material importance
impact the investment thesis. The
Global Contrarian Compendium, published on a monthly basis,
highlights three to seven additional ideas monthly.
Presented in an open Q & A format, the Compendium provides
an effective forum for the discussion of new
investment ideas, previous recommendations, and general thoughts
on the investment climate.
In addition to the in-depth reports and monthly Compendiums,
Murray welcomes calls from clients to discuss their
respective philosophies and new ideas. The Global Contrarian
will be most valuable to those clients who engage
Murray in regular discussions.