By Joseph Calandro Jr. Applied Value Investing: The Practical Application of Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett's Valuation (1st First Edition) [Hardcover]
This chapter comes from Applied Value Investing, which--unlike other value-investing books that introduce a new variation on the value-investing theme--instead adopts the modern Graham and Dodd approach and applies it in a variety of unique and practical ways. You will learn innovative new ways of applying a value-investing approach to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and alternative investing. This in-depth guide uses detailed case studies demonstrating how Graham and Dodd insights can be used in a macro-investing framework and applied to the emerging area of super-catastrophe valuation.
A well presented introduction to Graham & Dodd-style valuation and investment framework. Goes through most of the major considerations and gives ideas about how a solid foundation should be built.
Not very in-depth though and has some serious flaws in its valuation-assumptions, so I wouldn't recommend it exclusively. However, a good complement (to Security Analysis or The Intelligent Investor) for G&D-fans who'd like to get started with practical valuation. Just don't read too much into the author's "guesstimates" in valuation, see it as his way of showing how the process is accomplished.
As a sidenote I should say that I bought this book because of Seth Klarman's blessing on the cover, and it's an understatement to say I'm disappointed. His comment "This thought-provoking work takes value investing to the next level" is utterly misleading. My hope is that it was taken out of context or simply a HUGE favor to the author, because it certainly does NOT take value investing to the next level. EDIT: I realized after reading the inside of the cover that Klarman was talking about the book's application of using value investing in corporate stragegy and decision-making, so OK; it was taken somewhat out of context.
Good handbook. Very interesting references to Austrian School, the tech boom. And good tool for calculating value of companies. However you need to be deeply interested in the field to find this book readable.
Good second-level book for understanding value investing. Very practical chapters that walk through the valuation process, plus an insightful chapter on the macro-view of market activity according to the Austrian theory of the business cycle. Still, it was difficult to make it through with little background in the subject already. I'm reading The New Buffettology now, which is written much more simply. I think I'll come back to this one after I've learned a little more.