This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Business & Money

Smith, Edgar Lawrence

Economics

Kessinger Publishing

Tides in the Affairs of Men: An Approach to the Appraisal of Economic Change

Fraser Publishing Company

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Investing

Literary Licensing, LLC

2012 Reprint of 1928 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Edgar Lawrence Smith, (1882 - 1971) was an economist, investment manager and author of the influential book "Common Stocks as Long Term Investments", which promoted the then-surprising idea that stocks excel bonds in long-term yield. . He worked in banking and other financial endeavors in the years after college, then signed on in 1922 as an adviser to the brokerage firm Low, Dixon &amp; Company. While there, he later recounted in his Harvard class's 50th reunion yearbook, "I tried to write a pamphlet on why bonds were the best form of long term investment. But supporting evidence for this thesis could not be found." This discovery led to the 1924 publication of "Common Stocks as Long Term Investments." The book was widely reviewed and praised, and became a key intellectual support for the 1920s stock market boom. Its success enabled Smith to launch a mutual fund firm, "Investment Managers Company." It also garnered him an invitation from the economist John Maynard Keynes, who had favorably reviewed the book in "The Nation", to join the Royal Economic Society. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 brought a turn in Smith's fortunes.

Real Estate

Martino Fine Books

Originally published in 1924, Common Stocks as Long-Term Investments was the first book to promote the idea that stocks surpass bonds in long-term investments. The work, which was highly reviewed and praised, was a key component in the stock market boom of the 1920s. Author and banker Edgar Lawrence Smith was startled to discover, when writing a pamphlet touting the advantages of bonds, that stocks were a better form of long-term investment, yielding a higher return. The New York Times claimed that the book "laid down a principle which so reverses the accepted estimate of the relative investment value of bonds and common stocks as to have aroused the keen interest of Wall Street and investment bankers in general." This book will fascinate not only history buffs, but those interested in taking out stocks of their own. EDGAR LAWRENCE SMITH (1882-1971) was an American economist and financier, best known for his book Common Stocks as Long-Term Investments. After attending Harvard University, Smith worked in the finance industry until he became an adviser to the Low, Dixon & Co. brokerage firm. It was there he discovered, while trying to advertise the advantages of bonds in long-term investment, that stocks were actually a superior alternative, thus prompting his book. Its success enabled him to launch a mutual fund firm, Investment Managers Company, which he lost in the stock market crash of 1929.

Cosimo Classics

2017 Reprint of 1939 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. The author believes in the nature of certain cyclical climatic forces which seem to influence our outlook and behavior. Smith provides intricate charts showing how rain and weather influence the rise and fall of market prices and sales. He maintains that certain situations follow a ten year pattern. Certainly not for the average investor who hopes to find a new trick, but perhaps better suited for the research minded who want to apply intricate mathematical suppositions and theories to an interesting field.

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments (1924) by Edgar Lawrence Smith proved for the first time that stocks outperformed bonds in long-term stock market investments. Before Smith's work, the prevailing wisdom regarding investing stated that bonds were a safer investment. Conservative investors would allocate a large portion of their investments to bonds, relying on the annual rate of interest as a sure bet. Stocks, on the other hand, were viewed as risky speculations, due to the market's volatility.\nSmith himself held that view, before beginning the research for this book. As he told his Harvard class at their 50th reunion, "I tried to write a pamphlet on why bonds were the best form of long term investment. But supporting evidence for this thesis could not be found."\nEdgar Lawrence Smith (b. 1882, d. 1971) was a Harvard-educated economist and investment manager. While working as an advisor to the brokerage firm Low, Dixon & Company, he began to look at the relative performance of bonds versus stocks.\nThrough 11 case studies completed for Common Stocks as Long Term Investments, Smith proved that the prevailing wisdom in favor of bonds over stocks was wrong. In 10 out of the 11 cases, a $10,000 investment in arbitrarily chosen stocks would have outperformed an equal investment in high-grade bonds. And in the 11th case, the lower return was impacted by two market panics and inflation (in the years 1866-1885).\nHow does Smith account for the better performance of stocks over time? To begin, stocks often grow with or even in excess of inflation. Returns on bonds, on the other hand, lose purchasing power over time due to inflation. In addition, the general march of progress through population growth and improved standards of living over time leads to greater demand for products and services. The trajectory of progress often leads to growth that outpaces inflation, making stocks a better long-term investment.\nSmith's work supports a long-term investment strategy. He shows that over 15 years, the value of stocks sees a loss only 1.1% of the time. While they may be subject to short-term fluctuations, their long-term reliability makes them a smart investment as part of a balanced portfolio. Smith does not advocate against bonds. He merely suggests that investors give heavier weight to stocks than bonds, rather than the other way around.\nFamous economists Irving Fisher and John Maynard Keynes praised the book. Keynes invited Smith to join the Royal Economic Society, and Fisher directly stated that he had more confidence in common stocks due to Smith's work. Unfortunately, Smith, Irving, Keynes, and the rest of the world were about to discover that while stocks were generally the best long-term investments, there could still be ruinous market fluctuations.\nThe Wall Street Crash of 1929 was the ruin of many individuals and businesses. Keynes' fortune was nearly wiped out. Irving lost over $100M in today's dollars. And Smith himself had to sell his own mutual fund firm, Investment Managers Company. In the subsequent years, Smith focused instead on research and writing, rather than working directly in the financial industry.\nBut the long-term reliability of common stocks still holds. Even accounting for large market downturns, a diversified investment portfolio weighted to common stocks is still the clear financial winner when we look at an investment strategy over decades.\nWhile Smith suffered from the Crash of '29 (along with the rest of the country, including great economists), his ideas have been backed up since he first published, by Alfred Cowles in 1939 and again by Rex Sinquefield in 1976.

Mockingbird Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smith, Edgar Lawrence. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Smith, Edgar Lawrence

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smith, Edgar Lawrence. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Tides in the Affairs of Men: An Approach to the Appraisal of Economic Change

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments

Tides in the Affairs of Men: An Approach to the Appraisal of Economic Change

Common Stocks as Long Term Investments