Investing For Value

Value Investing Case Study 123-1: A fundamental analysis of MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad to assess whether it is an investment opportunity.     MR D.I.Y. has quietly become one of Malaysia’s most dominant retail success stories - growing from a single hardware shop into a nationwide powerhouse built on a simple promise: “Always Low Prices.” Over the past decade, the numbers look impressive. Revenue compounded at over 20% annually, stores expanded aggressively, and returns on capital surged once the business scaled. It is exactly the kind of growth story investors love. But here’s where things get interesting. Beneath the surface, the story is starting to change. Yes, margins improved. Returns remain above the cost of capital. And yes, the business is financially solid, generating strong cash flow and funding its own growth. However, several subtle shifts suggest the business may be entering a new phase: The gap between gross profit and operating profit has na...

Tips E-30: A 1-minute summary of my fundamental analysis of Primoris Services Corporation (NYSE: PRIM)   Investment Thesis Primoris is a mid-sized specialty contractor benefiting from long-term growth in utility infrastructure, renewables, and energy EPC. It has achieved strong organic growth but remains operationally average, with valuation already pricing in unproven margin improvements. Main Business Primoris operates a diversified contracting model supported by recurring MSAs and project-based EPC work. Its Utilities segment provides stable, recurring revenue via long-term service agreements, while the Energy segment - now about 63% of revenue - focuses on large-scale EPC projects. The business is heavily US-centric. Growth Primoris has transitioned from acquisition-led expansion to organic growth, supported by customer relationships, and industry tailwinds. A strong $11.5 billion backlog and exposure to renewables and infrastructure demand underpin continued doub...

This is Chapter 8 of my book Mastering Value Investing: Practical Strategies for Real-World Results . Go there for links to the other chapters. In this chapter, I break down the exact toolkit I use to dissect a business - not just to understand it, but to challenge it. Because here is the truth: a good story can mislead you, but numbers rarely do. I start with a simple question: What actually drives performance? Is it pricing power, volume growth, cost structure - or just financial engineering? Tools like breakeven analysis expose whether a company is fundamentally viable or just surviving. Then comes the deeper layer. A high return business may look impressive - until you discover it is driven by leverage, not real operating strength. That is where frameworks like DuPont force you to separate illusion from reality. But numbers alone are not enough. Strategic tools like SWOT and decision matrices reveal something even more important: where the business is vulnerable, and w...

Tips E-29: A 1-minute summary of my fundamental analysis of Photronics Inc (NASDAQ: PLAB)     Investment Thesis Photronics operates in a mature, cyclical industry yet delivers strong returns through cost discipline and efficiency gains rather than growth. While fundamentals are sound and peer positioning has improved, intrinsic value estimates suggest limited upside. Main Business Photronics is a leading global photomask manufacturer, supplying critical inputs for semiconductor and display fabrication processes. Photomasks function as precision templates used in chip and display manufacturing, with IC products contributing about three-quarters of revenue. The company has expanded heavily into Asia, which now accounts for most sales. Growth Photronics achieved moderate revenue growth driven by structural industry demand and strong competitive positioning despite cyclical end markets. Growth is largely organic, underpinned by technological expertise, customer s...

Value Investing Case Study 122-1: A fundamental analysis of QL Resources Berhad to assess whether it is an investment opportunity.     QL Resources Berhad operates in everyday sectors like eggs, poultry, seafood, and convenience stores. But beneath this seemingly ordinary business lies an interesting story of steady growth, improving margins, and recovering capital efficiency.  Over the past decade, QL has delivered about 10% annual growth in both revenue and profits. The business also proved resilient during difficult periods. For example, during the COVID-19 disruption in 2021, QL was among the few comparable regional companies that did not experience a decline in revenue.  But the more interesting development is happening beneath the surface. A few years ago, QL went through a heavy investment phase, expanding across its value chain and moving further downstream into consumer distribution through the FamilyMart convenience store network.  These...