Invest regularly in high-quality companies when they’re on sale. Prudently diversify. It’s a little like going to battle armed with five carefully selected smooth stones and a steadfast long-term perspective. — Manifest Investing Newsletter (June 2012)

The biblical story of David vs. Goliath is fairly widely known. Many would consider it among their favorite stories as a child. After declining the king’s body plate and armor, shepherd David proceeds to a stream and selects five smooth stones. Why five? Well, first and foremost, that was his divine guidance. But another potential driver is not as well known (and sometimes disputed.) Answer: Goliath had four brothers. Form your own conclusions. We prefer to think of this as extreme planning. And in days when market predators seem to ravage our flocks of stocks with abandon, it’s comforting to think about longer perspectives and five smooth stones with masterful sling shot prowess. Bear markets, even gigantic ones, are brought to their knees with the right perspective.

With Tin Cup sinking below $900,000 after our recent million-dollar moment, we’re reminded — starkly — that “Stock prices fluctuate.” Should we have increased cash equivalents for Tin Cup based on some elusive indicator during the first quarter? No. As a policy measure, Tin Cup is committed to remaining fully invested in equities 100% of the time. This necessarily means that we’ll endure roller coasters.

In the aftermath of a month like May 2012, many investors within this community long for the messages delivered by the late Louis Rukeyser. Lou’s steady and calming Wall Street Week (WSW) messages were a staple several years ago on PBS. Hugh McManus shared a number of YouTube rebroadcasts of these messages. Among our favorites include the October 1987 show where Mr. Rukeyser reminded investors worldwide to stay focused on what really matters — family, friends — and discouraged any thought of kicking the family dog or dining room furniture.

We happen to believe that high-quality excellent companies purchased/accumulated with elevated return forecasts means that the roller coasters will be of the kinder, gentler variety … but some turbulence is unavoidable.

We wrote extensively of the carnage endured by Tin Cup during the Great Recession (2008-2009) and didn’t waiver in our expectations that “everything will ultimately be all right.” We fully acknowledge that this whole scenario can be different depending on your age/time horizon, risk tolerance, attainment of critical mass, etc. But we also think — for some — avoiding the challenge of making asset allocation adjustments is also quite desirable. In fact, we can point to several successful long-term investors who refuse to spell asset allocation or worry about any form of tactical decisions along the way (outside of carefully pursuing growth/size diversification.)

Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein are two individuals often attributed with the following worn-out expression:

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.”

In a commentary by O’Reilly’s George Alistair Sanger, he points out:

(1) The saying isn’t true.

(2) It isn’t the definition of insanity, instability or even pimples.

(3) It could actually be harmful advice.

(4) It contradicts the notions of experiment and practice.

(5) It does not make up for being harmful and wrong by being particularly funny.

(6) It is not documented to have originated from either Franklin or Einstein.

Invest Long and Prosper

On these pages a little over a year ago (March 2011) Hugh McManus shared some thoughts on fear, primal instincts and linked his conclusions to Star Trek. That’s right. Hugh urged us to invest like Spock not like Captain Kirk. Fear is powerful and can trigger emotions that cloud our long-term judgment.

Hugh admitted during a recent discussion that he actually hoped for a sluggish stock market — some would say “lost decade”, starting in approximately 2000. Is there method to his madness? Absolutely. But you have to account for his age and position on the spectrum of peak-compensation years, etc. In his view, the last several years have been an opportunity to accumulate stocks like Solomon Select feature Walgreen (WAG) at multi-year low prices.

Our discussion rekindled memories and thoughts of the 1970s and the stocks featured by Better Investing magazine during the teeth of the oil embargo and misery index days. Some of the best-performing stocks were chosen during those dark days — a reality that we’ve not fully capitalized on. Are the present conditions and doldrums an opportunity for history to repeat?

As a case in point, The Limited (LTD) was selected by Better Investing in 1982 just in time for the secular bull market. The story was solid — centered on the steadily increasing number of women in workplace and apparel market drivers. The Limited has been one of the absolute best performing stocks over the last several decades, delivering 17% (+7.3% relative return) from 1982-2012.

Hugh does an excellent job of separating emotion from investing and sticks to excellent companies or special situations with long-term merit. He’ll sometimes dabble with a turnaround or emerging company if he perceives opportunity and effective leadership. His perspective extends from at least five years to decades.

Long-Term Performance Profiling. Mapping the relative return results of a variety of club-based portfolios (dark blue dots) and MANIFEST portfolios (light blue) versus a relatively random sampling of institutional portfolios (red dots) presents a compelling story. From Peter Lynch’s Magellan track record at the top to DALBAR’s recent findings of -5.3% relative returns experienced by “average investors” from 1991-2010, the influences are intriguing. We really do believe that groups of investors who heed the lessons of Nicholson, Babson & Graham have at least one leg up on the crowd.

Portfolio Stewardship

In a recent article for US New & World Report David Armstrong asks: “As an investor, have you taken stock of your personal behavior as it relates to the stewardship of your portfolio? If you haven’t, let me tell you it matters—a lot.”

“It’s well documented that investment success is linked in part to behavior. Some investors continue to make the same mistake over and over again: They buy high in the face of euphoria and sell low in the face of fear.”

“In fact, I suspect such behavior has a lot to do with the horrible returns the average investor has achieved from 1991 to 2010 as reported by a recent DALBAR study. It is a pitiful 2.6 percent annual return.”

At 2.6% over that time frame, the relative return achieved by “average investors” according to the DALBAR study is -5.3%. Chase hot stock tips and buy high, sell low. It’s the only way to get “there.”

Checking Emotion At The Door

We believe that the analysis techniques and portfolio design & management methods of the modern investment club movement offer significant potential. Refer to the accompanying graphic of group averages. Although we should consider the preliminary results to be a work-in-progress, similar to a small percentage of “precincts reporting”, the average results of the club-influenced portfolios are outperforming their institutional counterparts. We should note that — if anything — there’s a positive bias for the rhino funds, because we included the most successful and widely-held in our early sampling efforts.

We know the drill. Invest regularly in high-quality companies when they’re on sale. Prudently diversify. It’s a little like going to battle armed with five carefully selected smooth stones and a steadfast long-term perspective. Sling at will. Invest long and prosper.