The irony of risk
In assessing risk, it is very easy to confuse actual results with the probability that those results were going to be achieved. This is misinterpreting what actually occurred with the likelihood that it might have occurred compared with any other potential outcome. Similarly, it is a mistake to assume that the probability of an event is low just because it has not occurred or has occurred very rarely. The latter may be an indicator of the former, but it may also be that recent circumstances have been anomalous for the lack of occurrences of negative events affecting a particular business. If risks are assumed to be low, then they get priced accordingly, irrespective of the actual level of risk. This is when risk can become most damaging. It is also typically when leverage is encouraged and valuations become stretched, a dangerous combination with potentially severe consequences, as many listed companies found out during the Global Financial Crisis.
Ironically, if a specific risk is regularly discussed, it is most likely going to be priced appropriately. Risks are far more dangerous when they are hidden than when highlighted because of the lack of consideration of them in the pricing of a security, a sector or the stockmarket as a whole. Occasionally, certain risks are highlighted so frequently that investors can almost be confident that the prospective return compensates for the risks involved. There are frequent examples of this, where a stock, a sector or even the entire market falls leading into an event that is seen as negative. It becomes a focal point for the mainstream media, only for the risk to actually eventuate, and despite this, the stock, the sector or the market then proceeds to rally almost immediately. We have seen this recently with both the Brexit and Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States of America.
We focus on opportunities where risk is being actively considered and priced attractively. Occasionally events like those discussed above occur and have a large impact on investor psychology. Suddenly risk becomes very apparent, and companies exposed to potential risk, whether or not it has actually negatively impacted company earnings, become priced assuming that a near worst case scenario will eventuate. This is where we believe rational decision making is most important. If the price of an investment suddenly reflects a negative tail risk outcome (represented as A below), despite this outcome remaining a low probability possibility, it is highly probable that purchasing assets at this price will prove profitable over time.
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To use a specific example, Australian listed fund managers with UK exposure were sold heavily following the Brexit. Many analysts assumed very negative circumstances would result, including:
- a significant decline in the British pound;
- strong equity market outflows;
- a significantly lower stockmarket; and
- no ongoing performance fees.
The market began to price exposed securities assuming these outcomes, despite the fact that the likelihood of all four occurring remained low. Very quickly it became apparent that these assumptions would prove incorrect. This afforded investors an attractive entry point into a few high-quality businesses that had been sold off heavily on the fear that these outcomes would eventuate.
We focus on evaluating the probability of an event separately to evaluating the consequence of the event. Sometimes opportunities present themselves where an apparent risk eventuates and certain companies are sold off heavily despite the tenuous link as to why the particular event would affect these companies. Broadly speaking, the impact of foreign macroeconomic events on the cash earnings of Australian listed companies is often likely to be quite small. If stocks sell off on such issues, it can represent an opportunity for the value investor. Conversely, we prefer not to invest in businesses that have known company specific risk which, while having a low probability of occurring, would result in a significant permanent capital loss. We are acutely aware of the impact that a large negative return can have in a series of compounding numbers. From our perspective, this is unacceptable risk.
At Auscap, we focus on risk being the defining feature of our investment process, rather than a necessary task done after the investment decisions have been made. We are constantly focused on opportunities in sectors of the market where we think the risks are being priced appropriately and we will seek to avoid the cyclical stampede toward stocks that are being priced for perpetually positive news. While accepting that we will make mistakes, we think this approach is the best way to generate long-term compounding returns.
Contributed by Auscap Asset Management: (VIEW LINK)
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