Anthony Bolton, often hailed as the "father of contrarian investing," shares his insights on how to profit by doing the opposite of the crowd. He emphasizes that true contrarian investing requires a specific personality: comfortable with being different, capable of backing convictions, unemotional, and patient. He argues that popularity equates to risk, while unpopularity presents an opportunity, cautioning that not everything unpopular is automatically a wise investment.
Bolton explains that the market's tendency to follow bandwagons, which eventually burst, necessitates looking where others aren't. He stresses the importance of not being swayed by the comfort of the crowd and seeking reinforcement from others. He recognizes this path can be lonely, as contrarian investors often find themselves "out on a limb," embracing uncomfortable opportunities that others shy away from. Uncomfortable, he clarifies, signifies going against conventional wisdom and enduring the disapproval of others.
He touches on maintaining emotional distance, a crucial attribute for investors, stating that successes and failures should be treated similarly, preventing either from clouding judgment. While passionately involved in the business, he advocates for remaining detached from the emotional rollercoaster. He insists on focusing not on the outlook itself, but on how one's view of the future compares to what's already factored into the stock market price.
Bolton details his investment process, which incorporates a blend of fundamental and technical analysis. The first thing he looks at is the stock chart. This helps determine if he is early or late to the stock. He also looks at the shareholder lists of a company. He particularly favored small and medium-sized companies where, with thorough research, he could gain an information advantage. He also takes insider dealing into consideration. He also prioritizes the "voting" aspect of the stock market, using ownership data and insider trading information to gauge sentiment.
Bolton favors stocks with asymmetric returns, where the potential downside is limited while the upside is significant. He says that the most contrarian thing someone can do in the market is buying Chinese stocks. He believes the China market is approaching its low, while most markets are nearing their highs. He also recommends selling American stocks to fund a move into China. He anticipates that China's stock market is positioned for a bull market, driven by domestic investors seeking returns in equities after a three-year bear market and with limited appeal in other sectors like property.
When asked about crypto, Bolton does not give a definitive stance, but he refers to it as a sign of excess. He is not belittling AI, but believes that American tech to Chinese tech is going to happen.
Bolton acknowledges that the market's landscape has shifted with the rise of passive investing and algorithmic trading, which lengthens trends and intensifies competition. However, he insists that anomalies still arise, often created by "dumb money." He explains his portfolio construction strategy, starting with small positions and gradually increasing them as conviction grows, while also constantly reevaluating existing holdings.
He cautions against overconfidence and advocates for humility, emphasizing the need for constant self-reflection and awareness of one's limitations. He believes that acknowledging and learning from failures is more crucial than celebrating successes. He also prioritizes listening to the counter view.
Bolton shares that it is important that you're open to changing your mind. He concludes that being right 55% of the time is great. He recommends removing the things that cause you to lose money.