One of the hardest concepts to grasp in investing is that a ‘good’ company is not always a better investment opportunity than a ‘bad’ company. If we believe that markets work pretty well – not unreasonable given that few investment professionals beat the market over time* – and that they incorporate all public information into prices pretty quickly and efficiently, all of the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ news should already be reflected in these prices. A ‘good’ company will have to do better than the aggregate expectation set by the market for its share price to rise and vice versa. If a ‘bad’ company is in fact a less healthy company, it may have a higher expected long-term return, as risk and return are related.

It is perhaps evident that if the market incorporates the aggregate forward-looking views of all investors, it becomes very difficult to choose which companies, sectors, and geographic markets are likely to do best, going forward. In an uncertain world, where stock prices could move rapidly, and with magnitude, on the release of new information – which is itself a random process – then it makes good sense to ensure that an investment portfolio remains well diversified across companies, sectors and geographies. Take a look at the chart below that illustrates how deeply diversified a globally equity portfolio can be**.

Figure 1: If you DO NOT know which stocks are going to outperform well, own them all

The concentration risk in the US’s S&P500, is quite different.

Figure 2: The US’s S&P500 is increasingly concentrated in a few names.

Given that all the future promise of a company is already reflected in its price today, it is quite a risk betting a large part of your assets on just a few names, concentrated, for example, in the technology sector. The top 8 technology stocks in the US now have a larger market capitalisation than every other non-US market except for Japan. Dominance of companies, sectors and markets ebb and flow over time. Who is the next Amazon? What regulatory pressures could these dominant companies face? Is Donald Trump’s recent rage against Twitter the start? No-one knows. By remaining diversified, you will own the next wave of market leaders as they emerge and dilute the impact of ebbing companies. Whilst it is always tempting to look back with the benefit of our hindsight goggles and wish we had owned more (take your pick), US tech stocks, other growth stocks, gold etc., what matters is what is in front of us, not what is behind us.

‘The safest port in a sea of uncertainty is diversification.’

Larry E. Swedroe, Investment Author

Notes:
*For example see SPIVA US Year-end Report – 15 year data where around 90% of active managers fail to beat the market. 
**An illustrative global equity portfolio that includes small tilts to value stocks, smaller companies, global commercial property, and emerging equity market shares.

Duncan R Glassey
Managing Director – WealthFlow
duncan.glassey@wealthflow.com

This article is distributed for educational purposes and should not be considered investment advice or an offer of any product for sale. This article contains the opinions of the author but not necessarily the Firm and does not represent a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future results and no representation is made that the stated results will be replicated. Errors and omissions excepted.

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WealthFlow Group Ltd. Registered in Scotland No SC635011. Registered Office: 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR.

Head Office & Consulting Rooms: 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR.

Mail correspondence to our Central Scotland Admin Hub: WealthFlow Group Limited, PO Box 14947, Grangemouth FK3 3AU.

WealthFlow Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The guidance/advice contained in this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore restricted to consumers based in the UK.

For your protection, unresolved complaints can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

To contact the Financial Ombudsman Service, please visit www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

WealthFlow Group Ltd. Registered in Scotland No SC635011. Registered Office: 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR.