The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros. Joshua Rosenbaum

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About the Authors

      Please feel free to contact JOSHUA PEARL and JOSHUA ROSENBAUM with any questions, comments, or suggestions for future editions at:

       [email protected]

       JOSHUA PEARL, AUTHOR

      JOSHUA PEARL has served as a Managing Director at Brahman Capital, a long/short equity asset manager. He focuses on public equity investments and special situations utilizing a fundamentals-based approach. Previously, he structured high yield financings, leveraged buyouts, and restructurings as a Director at UBS Investment Bank. Prior to UBS, he worked at Moelis & Company and Deutsche Bank. He received his BS in Business from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. He is also the co-author of Investment Banking: Valuation, LBOs, M&A, and IPOs.

       JOSHUA ROSENBAUM, AUTHOR

      JOSHUA ROSENBAUM is a Managing Director and Head of the Industrials & Diversified Services Group at RBC Capital Markets. He originates, structures, and advises on M&A, corporate finance, and capital markets transactions. Previously, he worked at UBS Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation, the direct investment division of the World Bank. He received his AB from Harvard and his MBA with Baker Scholar honors from Harvard Business School. He is also the co-author of Investment Banking: Valuation, LBOs, M&A, and IPOs.

       RAYMOND AZIZI, EDITOR

      RAYMOND AZIZI is a Portfolio Manager at Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers where he manages a long/short equity portfolio. Previously, he was an investment professional at Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking where he focused on leveraged buyouts and growth capital investments. Prior to his private equity role, he worked in the Investment Banking Division at Lehman Brothers. He received his BS in Business from Rutgers University and his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a contributor to Investment Banking: Valuation, LBOs, M&A, and IPOs.

       JOSEPH GASPARRO, EDITOR

      JOSEPH GASPARRO is a Vice President in Capital Services at Credit Suisse where he advises on capital raising and operations for alternative asset managers. Previously, he executed M&A and capital markets transactions in the firm's Investment Banking Division. Prior to Credit Suisse, he worked at BofA Securities and UBS. He received his BA from Gettysburg College and his MBA from Rutgers Business School. He is a two-time recipient of the President of the United States' Volunteer Service Award. He is also an editor of Investment Banking: Valuation, LBOs, M&A, and IPOs.

Foreword

       Howard Marks

       Co-Chairman and Co-Founder, Oaktree Capital Management

      In 2011, I wrote a book called The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor. I intended the title to be somewhat ironic, since in investing there is no single most important thing. A huge number of elements have to be taken into account in every investment decision, and the process has to be broad and yet detailed, both methodical and creative.

How can would-be investors or those on the way up learn about all of these elements and how to incorporate them into their methodology? The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros by Joshua Pearl and Joshua Rosenbaum is a terrific source of help in this regard. It will quickly get the would-be stock market investor started up the learning curve.

      Simply put, I have never before seen a book that provides the same complete and thoughtful orientation to the process of investing. The Little Book is clear, logical and well-organized, a concise survey course in what investors need to know. It starts at the beginning, with identifying candidates for investment and screening them for potential. Then it progresses to studying the subject companies' finances as well as gauging the potential of their businesses. It moves on to the essential element of gauging whether the attributes that have been identified are highly valued at the stock's price or a bargain. And it concludes with thoughts on how to determine the role the stock can play in an investor's portfolio. It illustrates these lessons by way of the example of companies that are followed throughout the book.

The bottom line for me is that The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros provides a simple introduction to a far-from-simple field. Superior performance in the competitive field of investing requires both covering the nuts-and-bolts elements that most experienced investors are familiar with, and mastery of nuanced considerations that will lead to success only if the investor understands them better than others.

      Identifying and learning to grapple with the former will free the reader to turn to a meditation on the latter. I'm glad The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros is at hand to accelerate the reader's progress. It does an excellent job of introducing the decisions that have to be made. You'll find learning to make them well to be a fascinating lifetime's work.

Acknowledgments

      We are deeply indebted to the numerous colleagues, peers, and friends who provided guidance, input, and hard work to help make this book possible.

      Special thanks to Mitch Kuflik and Rob Sobel, co-founders of Brahman Capital. Following my [JP] many years in investment banking, they gave me a shot to be a professional investor. After providing a gateway into the investing world, they helped me expand my skill set and offered sage advice over many years. Their decades of experience and wisdom have been invaluable in my career development. My family and I are forever indebted to them.

      Two of my [JP] mentors Jeff Schachter and Mitch Julis, who also happen to be close friends with each other, were incredible influences on this book. It simply could not have been completed without their support and encouragement along the way. Personally, I've tried to emulate these two individuals and mirror the way they think, act, and live their lives. They are both “mensches” in every sense of the word.

Our vision for this book could not have been realized without the help of Raymond Azizi from Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers, whose investing insights, experience, and primary research were priceless. Ray is among the most talented portfolio managers we know and is a third co-author in every sense of the title. Most importantly, he's one of our closest friends. Joseph Gasparro