Joshua Kennon is a Managing Director of Kennon-Green & Co., a private asset management firm specializing in global value investing for affluent and high net worth individuals, families, and institutions. Nothing in this article or on this site, which is Mr. Kennon's personal blog, is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell a security or securities. Investing can result in losses, sometimes significant losses. Prior to taking any action involving your finances or portfolio, you should consult with your own qualified professional advisor(s), such as an investment advisor, tax specialist, and/or attorney, who can help you consider your unique needs, circumstances, risk tolerance, and other relevant factors.

Papa Johns Franchise

Peyton Manning Borrows the Jamal Mashburn and Ulysses Bridgeman, Jr Investing Playbook By Investing in Papa Johns Franchises

Feel good story for the day: Peyton Manning, the 36 year old legendary quarterback, bought 21 Papa John franchises in the Denver area a couple of weeks ago, according to Bloomberg.  It looks like he is borrowing from the Jamal Mashburn and Ulysses Bridgeman, Jr. playbook.  Those two former sports stars took their paychecks and, as…

The United States Needs a Strong Opposition Party

As I go through the results of the 2012 election cycle from a wide range of sources across the political spectrum, including The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and The Center for American Progress, I am getting … concerned. We need an opposition party in the United States.  It creates debate so only the best ideas win, it keeps politicians more honest than they would otherwise be, and it keeps the boat in a narrow center lane so we don’t veer off into extreme in either direction.  The Republican party has been taken over by radicals, resulting in a catastrophic demographic and values problem that is now causing it to fail at that vital mission.  

Example of Cartogram

Remember To Use Cartograms for Business, Political, and Socioeconomic Data Analysis

With less than 10 hours to go before the polls open for the 2012 Presidential election, I thought it would be a good time to remind you about the importance of using cartograms to study business, political, and socioeconomic data.  Cartograms should be a constant tool in your intellectual toolbox that you utilize to overcome…

Net Worth and Income By Education Level

Household Income, Net Worth, and Unemployment Rates By Education Level

The most recent statistics on household income, net worth, and unemployment, sorted by education level, are really interesting.  Following our discussion about the splits that have emerged along geographic fault lines in the electoral body, I thought it would be important to highlight the economic differences and how enormous the income inequality is for the…

Disney Buys Lucasfilms Darth Vader and Mickey Mouse

The Walt Disney Company Adds Lucasfilm To Its Stable of Investments for $4.5 Billion

As you probably know by now, The Walt Disney Company has acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. in a $4.5 billion deal.  The studio owns franchises such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones.  Half will be paid in cash and the other half will be paid in newly minted shares of the company, diluting the existing owners.  However, the terms are so favorable that, frankly, it looks like George Lucas took a much lower price than he could have gotten elsewhere solely to have Disney protect the brand, given the latter’s reputation and massive resources.  Not even including the cash that Lucasfilm itself produces, Disney could pay for the acquisition in less than 6.7 months using the money generated by its vast empire.

Coca-Cola Pepsi and Dr Pepper Have 88 Percent Combined Market Share

You Can Get Rich With Just One or Two Big Ideas In Your Lifetime

I often get messages from some of you expressing a desire to invest but not wanting to sign up for a life buried in balance sheets or income statements.  The good news: In investing, you can do extremely well if you have a few good, big ideas in your lifetime.  You don’t have to become a master of everything.  You just need to understand what you are doing, focus on it with the persistence of a pit bull, and be patient during the periods when there is nothing attractive to do, content to sit on cash.  There is no need to master every industry, or spend your evenings pouring over the disclosure documents of a pharmaceutical giant to make money.  It isn’t necessary.