15 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, controlled by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, owning businesses across insurance, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and equity stakes.
Canadian software holding company founded by Mark Leonard in 1995 — which acquires vertical market software companies (mission-critical software for niche industries like parking, marinas, transit) and holds them permanently — generating 30%+ annual returns over 25 years.
American engineer and entrepreneur who built Teledyne into a major conglomerate through acquisition — and then executed one of the greatest capital allocation programs in history by repurchasing 90% of Teledyne's shares over 8 years, returning enormous value to shareholders.
American banker and CEO of JPMorgan Chase since 2005, widely regarded as the most capable banker of his generation for navigating the 2008 financial crisis and building the world's most profitable bank.
Chinese-American investor who founded Himalaya Capital — a concentrated value investment fund — and who is Charlie Munger's most trusted investment peer, having been recommended by Munger as potentially the best investor in the world, and having introduced Munger to BYD.
Canadian entrepreneur who founded Constellation Software in 1995 — and built it into a $40B+ company by acquiring vertical market software companies and never selling them — becoming one of the greatest capital allocators in history through a simple, consistent strategy.
American entrepreneur who co-founded Danaher with his brother Steven — building one of the most successful industrial conglomerates in history through the application of the Danaher Business System (a Toyota Production System derivative) to every acquired company.
British investor who co-managed Nomad Investment Partnership with Qais Zakaria — producing outstanding returns by concentrating in a few 'scale economies shared' businesses (Amazon, Costco, Berkshire) — and whose annual letters are considered among the finest documents of investment philosophy.
American investor, CEO of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management, and host of the Invest Like the Best podcast — whose support and promotion of David Senra's Founders podcast was instrumental in building its early audience.
British investor who co-managed Nomad Investment Partnership with Nick Sleep — producing one of the outstanding investment track records of its era through extreme concentration in a few high-conviction positions.
Cuban-American businessman who served as CEO of Coca-Cola from 1981 to his death in 1997, overseeing both the disastrous New Coke launch and the company's most extraordinary period of shareholder value creation.
American real estate investor and private equity magnate who built a fortune by buying distressed real estate when no one else would — earning the nickname 'Grave Dancer' — and whose career spanned several real estate cycles where he bought at distressed prices and sold near peaks.
American conglomerate founded by Henry Singleton in 1960 — built through 130+ acquisitions of defense and industrial technology companies — and then dramatically increased in per-share value through Singleton's countercyclical share repurchase program, buying back 90% of shares outstanding.
William Thorndike's 2012 study of eight unconventional CEOs — including Henry Singleton, John Malone, and Katharine Graham — who dramatically outperformed the S&P 500 by focusing obsessively on per-share value creation through intelligent capital allocation.
American investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, widely regarded as the greatest capital allocator in history and the defining practitioner of value investing.