From Library Journal
The stock-market profits that investment pro Greenblatt is chasing are found in some areas not usually considered by the average investor: spin-offs, mergers, risk arbitrage, restructurings, rights offerings, bankruptcies, liquidations, and asset sales. Greenblatt acknowledges that pursuing them will require some time, effort, patience, and experience. But he argues that because these areas are not overstudied by the analysts, possible market inefficiencies can …
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Okay, so the title of the book leaves something to be desired, but that is the ONLY part of this book that falls short. Joel Greenblatt has written an excellent book on profiting from special situations. That’s fortunate for the rest of us, since so far as I can tell, this is the ONLY book that provides an overview of event-driven investing. Note that I said “overview”–it’s by no means definitive, nor does it claim to be. Certainly more rigorous treatments of risk arbitrage exist. However, this is the only book I’m aware of that is dedicated to explaining merger securities, spinoffs, recapitalizations, bankruptcy and yes, risk arbitrage.
The book’s format is well thought out: each chapter explains the how and why of investing in one particular corporate event, and then utilizes case studies to ram the point home. The case studies are interesting, reading at times like a novel. The tone is lighthearted and endearing throughout, and the frequent jokes, although usually kitschy, hit the mark nonetheless. (One gem: “There are three types of people in the world–those who can count, and those who can’t.”)
This book is not for everyone, however. Beginners should first read Peter Lynch, Ben Graham, and Phillip Fisher before tackling this one. Greenblatt assumes a reasonable degree of comfort with financial statements and value investing strategies on the part of the reader. The use of LEAPS and options in special situations is covered, but should be avoided by all save for the most advanced investors (as per the author’s advice). Also, professionals working in the field of event-driven investments would probably find little they did not already know. That being said, the book reads quickly, so a pro would be little disadvantaged for reading it.
Finally, it’s nice to know that the author can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Greenblatt publishes his firm’s audited returns over a ten-year period at the end of the book, and they are out of this world. We’re talking an average annual return of 50% for ten years. This book is not a case of “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Greenblatt can, and he does.
Highly recommended.
This is an amazingly generous roadmap to lesser-known corners of the securities market. When I first picked it up about 2 years ago, I was terribly disappointed because all the strategies Greenblatt describes require a fair amount of WORK and careful thought –and it was my impression that “Stock Market Genius” entailed effortless wizardry! But the work is contagious and engaging (like digging for buried treasure, as aptly described by Joel Greenblatt).
Despite the book’s schleppy and seemingly unrealistic title, Greenblatt’s descriptions are wonderfully realistic and honest. In particular, although I’ve looked for other resources on spinoff investment strategies, everything you really need to know is in this book. The author’s style is flippant but endearing, and the reader will get more than his/her money’s worth from the ideas described in this book.
This book is for those who cannot resist the idea of wanting to outperform the market averages. For most people, that’s dumb idea . . . and indexed mutual funds would be a better choice.
But if you are willing to roll up your sleeves, put on your green eyeshade and look at things differently, Mr. Greenblatt’s approach is a very valid one.
If you read only one of Mr. Greenblatt’s books about investing (the other one is The Little Book That Beats the Market), read this one. You’ll make more money with this one.
You can be a Stock Market Genius has the simplest explanation for special situations investing involving unusual securities that I have seen for the lay person.
For most people, this book will be a lot to chew on. I suggest that you start by simply trying to understand and apply one idea in the book . . . such as finding under priced small spin-off stocks. After you get the handle on that one, go on to another approach that interests you.
I have worked for over three decades helping companies design these new securities that fascinate Mr. Greenblatt so much. From that experience, I’m constantly amazed at how stupidly most corporate finance departments and investment banks pursue these new structures. I suspect that the answer is that the heavy brainpower is saved for more profitable work like M&A.
As a result, you will almost always find a great investment opportunity if you look at unusual securities. I encourage you to begin by spending a half hour getting the background on any unusual transaction you read about.
You can also improve on this book by doing more precise measurements of securities values (if you have the background to do that), but for many severely undervalued securities Mr. Greenblatt’s approach of taking guesses about what a reasonable value is will work just fine.
Although the examples are older, these kinds of opportunities still abound in most categories he discusses (stub stocks are the exception). Mr. Greenblatt has a real talent for putting his cases together to make them easier to understand.
Have a ball!