1. Is the business simple and understandable?
This refers to the importance of investing in businesses with straightforward and transparent operations that can be easily understood by the investor.
2. Does the business have a consistent operating history?
Investing in businesses with a track record of consistent performance over time can reduce the risk of surprises and improve the chances of long-term success.
3. Does the business have favorable long-term prospects?
Looking for businesses with a competitive advantage, strong growth potential, and favorable market conditions can help to identify companies with a high potential for long-term success.
4. Is management rational and candid?
Evaluating the quality of a company's management team, including their ability to make sound decisions and communicate transparently with investors, is an important factor in identifying strong investment opportunities.
5. Is management incentivized along with shareholders?
Investors should look for companies where management's interests are aligned with those of shareholders, through equity ownership or other incentives.
6. What is the business worth?
Determining the intrinsic value of a company through analysis of financial statements, industry trends, and other factors is an important step in identifying undervalued investment opportunities.
7. Can the business be purchased at a significant discount to its intrinsic value?
Investors should look for opportunities to buy companies at a significant discount to their intrinsic value, to achieve a margin of safety and reduce downside risk.
8. What are the key risks?
Assessing the potential risks facing a company, including industry trends, competitive pressures, and potential regulatory or legal issues, is an important step in evaluating the potential for long-term success.
9. What is the worst-case scenario?
Investors should consider the potential downside risks of an investment, including the worst-case scenario, to properly evaluate the risk-reward tradeoff.
10. How much can be invested?
Determining the appropriate amount of capital to invest in a particular company, based on the investor's risk tolerance and overall investment strategy, is an important consideration in the investment decision-making process.