Monday 20 March 2006

Variability

Just read and covered an interesting article by Kothari, Laguerre and Leone which analysed the relative degree of uncertainty of future earnings attributeable to current R&D investment, compared to current Capital expenditure.

The key finding was that R&D investments generate more uncertain future earnings then other capital expenditure. Not that surprising really. However, considering the majority of studies focus on the impact of investments on share price or return, its a little unusual.

Risk plays a large part in the buy/sell/hold decision of investors, and the uncertainty of earnings plays a large part in determining the riskyness of a project or prospective investment.

Does Risk play a part in evaluation? Do we consider risk when we consider the value of an item, or is it a completely seperate factor? I believe it is interrelated.
If a company is not providing a satisfactory return for its inherrent risk, a rational investor will sell his/her shares in that company.

How could I incorporate a similar analysis of a major accounting cost driver or cost centre intot eh evaluation of a company. Just as an aside, are investors really concerned with the inherent risk of the company they are invested in or the risk that they are missing a better alternative investment. (ie. cost of capital or opportunity cost)?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey damo it's reid(the hartney hearthrob) just thought i would tell ya i have updated my blog. i have been working a lot latley don't have much to talk about so it isn't as good as my usual wisdom. don't be afraid to tell me some embarssing stories about yourself you have more about me than i have about you. so we are going to have to even that out ok. anyway I hope you miss canada so that you visit sometime ok. right now i'm 1000 dollars closer to my goal of seeing you guys but i have to make it through summer without losing my money(i can't say losing we all know were it will go). that's all i have to say i'm sure i'll here back from ya soon.
bye

D. said...

Hi Reid! Good to hear from ya mate! Good to hear your working! Good to hear your closer to geting over here! Hope everything has been going well for ya! I'll send ya an email one day!