European Shorting
As the founder of GuruFocus.com, many people naturally assume that I have a degree in finance, or some other closely related field. However, I actually possess a Ph.D. in physics.
I worked as a research scientist at a giant telecommunications company, publishing many scientific papers and hold 35 U.S. and international patents.
But I Had One Problem: I had absolutely no knowledge whatsoever when it came to investing. At the peak of the internet bubble, I was buying shares in fiber optic companies which I thought had the brightest future. My fiber optics stocks quickly doubled or tripled. Making money with stocks was easy, I thought. Then the bubble burst...
It was then that I learned about Warren Buffett, Ben Graham, and Peter Lynch Learning, Growing and Building ConfidenceI forgot exactly how, but I found out about Peter Lynch following the burst of the internet bubble. It was through Peter Lynch's books that I learned about Warren Buffett, and his mentor, Ben Graham. I then read all of Buffett's shareholder and partnership letters of the last 40 years.
Upon finishing all of the letters, I was exhausted. I felt like a hungry man who had his first ever full meal in his life. I was thinking: "This is the right way to invest. This is the right way to invest!"
I realized that successful investing is about knowledge, and about hard work. It is a lifetime learning process. There is no other secret in successful investing.
Only through learning can you build confidence in your investment decision making. Knowledge and confidence help you to think rationally and independently, especially during market panics and euphoria, when rational and independent thinking is needed the most.
The good part is, if you learn, you will get better. It is very rewarding, too.
Standing on the Shoulders of GiantsBut there are more than 10,000 stocks that are traded in the US market alone. Where do we get started? An idea came to my mind then: Why not generate my ideas from the portfolios of the best investors? If I started from the stocks that some of the best investors have already researched, won't my risk of being wrong drop dramatically?
And thus, in December of 2004, GuruFocus was born.
As a physicist by training, I feel that the idea of GuruFocus is exactly like what Isaac Newton said: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
A Service unlike Any OtherThe idea didn't stop on just what stocks the Gurus are buying or selling. We focus on why they buy or sell the stocks, and how they do their research. This has led to GuruFocus value screeners for ideas generation and the research tools for idea analysis and validations.
Every month we also publish three newsletters which analyze stocks following the processes of Warren Buffett, Ben Graham, and other value investing giants.
All of the stock screeners were developed because they will generate ideas with low risks and above average returns; they follow the strategies that have been proven working by investment Gurus in their multi-decade of investment careers. The financial data and valuation tools are the ones that are most important in analyzing and validating these investment ideas. These screeners and valuation tools are the only ones that I use for my own investment.
We don't offer you get-rich-quick stock tips. We want you to grow, learn, and build confidence in your own decision making. Because, above all, you are the one who will make investment decisions.
Try It for Free and Without ObligationPut our statements to the test by taking a no-obligation free trial of our Premium Membership - a perfect way to get acquainted with GuruFocus. If you decide to stay with us, it's just $299 a year. Or you may prefer to take advantage of a longer term subscription for greater savings; an three-year subscription at $699 saves you a full $198.
Simply follow this secured link to start your free trial. And here's my guarantee: Should GuruFocus not measure up to your expectations, you may cancel within the trial and you won't be charged a penny. If you change your mind any time during the subscription, we will issue you a pro-rated refund. No question asked.
Furthermore, if you are not satisfied and cancel within 30 days, we will issue you full refund. This is our 100% money back guarantee.
Who Are Among Our SubscribersWe now have more than 40,000 visitors daily to our site. More than 10,000 investors have subscribed our premium membership. Our users focus on long term successful investing, and are the most intelligent group of investors on the internet. We have subscribers ranging from individual investors to investment advisors of almost all brokerage firms, big and small, and to analysts and fund managers of multibillion-dollar mutual fund and hedge fund firms. Many "Gurus" that we follow on GuruFocus are also our subscribers.
An Investment in SuccessI cannot promise you that success will be instantly yours if you start subscribing to GuruFocus. But I guarantee that reading our articles, following the proven investing strategies and taking advantage of our research tools will greatly reduce your risks in investing and improve your long term returns. You will learn, gain confidence, and become a better investor.
Sincerely Yours,
Charlie Tian, Ph.D.
Founder, GuruFocus.com
P.S. It's important to note that the subscription price may be tax deductible. Here again is the secured link to proceed.
P.P.S. You won't be charged anything within the 7-day trial period. If you are not satisfied and cancel within 30 days, you get 100% of your money back.
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