MD&A

Exploring frameworks for understanding economics, investing and finance.

The hottest Substack posts of MD&A

And their main takeaways
118 implied HN points 29 Jun 25
  1. Investing can be a fun and intellectually stimulating puzzle, similar to solving crosswords or watching movies. If you enjoy it, picking stocks can be a rewarding hobby even if it's not always financially beneficial.
  2. Thesis drift is when investors create new reasons to hold onto a stock after their original reasons have failed. Instead of admitting they were wrong and moving on, they keep justifying their position and often end up losing more money.
  3. In both investing and life, it's important to recognize when a strategy isn't working. Instead of sticking to failed ideas, we should be willing to change course and learn from our mistakes to find better paths.
453 implied HN points 31 Dec 24
  1. People often stick to familiar ideas, even if they're wrong, because those ideas feel comfortable. Just like in science, new information can be hard to accept.
  2. Seeing the world differently can lead to better investment opportunities. Those who challenge common beliefs can find hidden chances in the market.
  3. Making simple changes can solve big problems. Just like washing hands helped reduce childbed fever, allowing more housing construction might help lower rising costs.
404 implied HN points 04 Jul 23
  1. Intellectual laziness can lead to catastrophic corporate failures, as seen in the case of GE and SVB.
  2. Managers who prioritize manipulating short-term earnings over creating long-term shareholder value are intellectually lazy.
  3. Intellectual rigor is essential in identifying underrated managers and avoiding overrated ones.