
Clients often ask our opinion on gold. Is it cheap? Is it a bubble? How much further will the price go up? When will it go down? Interestingly, the questions are similar to questions we were asked about technology stocks in the late 1990s. Then, as now, cautious investors were challenged to explain the persistent price escalation of an investment whose fundamental value was elusive.

Value investing seeks to identify, and profit from, companies that are trading at a discount to their actual value. Everyone appreciates a discount, but not all discounts are created equal. Investing in superior companies at a discount (which we describe as ‘quality value’ investments) offers the possibility for substantial long-term gains.

Despite solid market gains over the past two years, select companies continue to offer significant investment opportunities. Many companies are only now beginning to shift from preservation and recovery measures to growth initiatives. This environment will provide excellent opportunities to invest in strong companies with attractive growth prospects.