1. Invest in your circle of competence
Now, this is not a new concept. In fact, Warren Buffett has been known to teach the same principle. But focusing on companies in sectors that you are familiar with will better enable you to determine how the business is operating, and decide if there are good reasons to change your investment. Bruce Berkowitz has worked for financial companies since 1983, including Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and, most recently (in the ’90s), as a managing director of Smith Barney.
By focusing on the financial sector, including both banks and insurance companies, Berkowitz has been able to utilize his knowledge of the businesses, and take advantage of value plays. The two largest holdings in the Fairholme Fund, Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) and American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG), have come under tough times; but by knowing the fundamentals of their businesses, Berkowitz recognized that the companies had strong foundations and were good value opportunities after the financial crisis.
If you look at the composition of the Fairholme Fund, you’ll see that it is dominated by financials and real estate companies. No mention of tech companies or energy stocks here. If you aren’t familiar with a company’s business, and aren’t willing to take the time to become thoroughly knowledgeable about it, don’t invest in it.
2. Ignore the crowd
Speaking of the financial crisis, Berkowitz’s confidence in both B of A and AIG were contrary to the opinions of most others at the time. The subtitle to this section is actually the motto of the Fairholme Fund, a sure way to get investors thinking of their approach to stocks. By ignoring the crowd, you are able to focus more on the fundamentals of a company’s operations, instead of the most recent news blip that could send the masses away in droves (often for illogical reasons).
As Bank of America and AIG suffered their existences as pariahs on Wall Street, Berkowitz recognized that Mr. Market was undervaluing these strong businesses — a prime opportunity for investing when others won’t. In fact, a lot of money managers were eventually noted as saying that, though they thought financials would be good opportunities, they couldn’t be seen with the stocks in their funds for fear of losing investors.
If you invest without following the crowd, you are setting yourself up for great opportunities that others might not see or might ignore.
3. Embrace the fear
This lesson also harkens back to another principal shared by Buffett: Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful. The financial crisis was the most recent economic disaster, leaving the nation reeling and investors afraid. But, while others were pulling their money from the market, many smart investors were buying up stocks left and right.
Even after his investment in AIG lost 60% in 2011, Berkowitz was still confident that his choices were right ,and stated in his letters to investors, “The seeds of great performance are usually sown in times of intense fear after a disaster.” So far, with 43.2% of the fund’s holding in AIG, his statement has proven correct. After gaining 47% in 2012, and dropping the last of the government’s ownership, AIG is poised for growth.
Fear can also turn into hatred, which Berkowitz also suggests we should embrace when considering investments. Just as financials have continued to suffer on Wall Street, even though performance does not warrant it, some retailers have also become analyst punching bags. Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) , which has become a favorite of bears, represents 8.5% of the Fairholme Fund — its third largest investment.
