Joel Greenblatt: How To Compare Apples And Oranges With Potential Investments

HFA Padded
The Acquirer's Multiple
Published on

During his recent interview with the Investors’ Chronicle, Joel Greenblatt discussed how to compare apples and oranges with potential investments. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

Q1 2023 hedge fund letters, conferences and more

Greenblatt: If you’re going to buy a stock, the first hurdle you want to pass is: over time, are you going to beat the risk-free rate of 6 per cent?

That’s obviously a lot higher than the risk-free rate’s been for a long time, and as you suggest that’s one way to put in a margin of safety.

That doesn’t mean a company has to have a 6 per cent earnings yield right now. If you think it’s growing, a 6 per cent earnings yield would be really good, so that’s a little over 16 times earnings.

But even something that’s earning 4 per cent – if you think earnings are going to double in the next couple of years, then you’ll be over that 6 per cent rate we’re looking at.

So it’s a good way to look at the world of investing, how to compare apples and oranges: what do I pay, what’s my yield.

You can read the entire interview here:

Joel Greenblatt Interview – Investor’s Chronicle

For all the latest news and podcasts, join our free newsletter here.

FREE Stock Screener

Article by The Acquirer’s Multiple.

HFA Padded

Tobias Carlisle is the founder of The Acquirer’s Multiple®. He is also the founder of Acquirers Funds®. The Acquirer’s Multiple® is the valuation ratio used to find attractive takeover candidates.