Applied Finance Capital Management

Applied Finance, a thought leader in valuation and portfolio construction, is a true “value” investment management company. Unlike the majority of firms today that focus on low multiples to define “value”, we define value as identifying companies trading below their intrinsic value. Our Valuation Driven® approach forms the foundation of our investment decisions.

Applied Finance is 100% employee owned, with the average tenure of our 10 equity partners being over 18 years. Learn more about Applied Finance.

Institutional Investor features Applied Finance Co-Founder Rafael Resendes
June 25, 2021
“We’re redefining what value is. The term has been tortured and confused with cheapness.” Mr. Resendes says. In our view, growth and value can coexist and regardless of what a price multiple/cheapness indicator might imply, high multiple companies can be undervalued in terms of their overall valuation. […more]
Intrinsic Value in Passive Indexing
June 15, 2021
While Applied Finance has long advocated for investors to consider the strategic advantages from incorporating a valuation-based discipline in portfolio construction and stock selection, this study provides compelling evidence that even passive allocations benefit when index weights are formed on intrinsic value characteristics instead of using market cap as a proxy. […more]
Quantitative Value Investing is Broken
February 17, 2021
This article first appeared on RealClearMarkets.com February 17th 2021 “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Arthur Schopenhauer Our last [...more]
The False Bargain of Passive Investing
July 14, 2020
Today the irony continues, as the intellectual foundations in financial economics that underpinned Bogle’s incredible success are much less robust than they appeared in the early 70’s, yet the push for passive investing is stronger and more fervent than ever. For proactive, process-oriented, intelligent advisors this will create a great opportunity to distinguish yourself from the growing herd of “commodity” advisors who preach little more than fee minimization, rather than alpha generation or negative alpha avoidance. […more]
Emotional Unease Creates Generational Wealth Opportunity
March 19, 2020
Only in 2008 have valuations been as attractive as now. Today, the market is essentially pricing in 0% sales growth over the next five years, not as harsh as the -15% priced in during the 2008 lows, but very harsh compared to the expected 20% to 30% growth these firms have typically delivered over a five year period. Unlike 2008 there will not be liquidity issues driving economic decisions and panicking investors. This is a confidence crisis similar to 9/11. As medical policy catches and surpasses the virus, confidence will return and economic activity will march forward. Already, in China, restaurants have reopened to crowds, and society is returning to business as usual.
The stock market today is trading at valuation levels last seen in 2008, before an unprecedented wealth creation bull market swept away the fear of the Great Recession. Then as now, it’s always about the expectations built into market prices.
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